
Qass IA3M. 

Book £l5J1« 



COPYRIGHT DEPOSIT. 



Chautauqua County Schools 
and Education 



1802- 1902 



Westhcld, New York 



PREPARED FOR THE -CENTENNLAL COMMITTEE" OF THE 
HISTORICAL SOCIETY OF CHAUTAUQLTA COUNTY 




BY PHIN M. MILLER 



L 



n 



LIB"'*'^ "f CONGRESS 
TWO GoDies Bereived 

SEP 29 1904 

Oooyrtjfht Entry 

JlASS ^ XXc. No. 

COPY B 




Cnpvright January zz, 1902 
BY PHIN M. MILLER 



RESPECTFULLY DEDICATED 

TO THE 

CENTENNIAL COMMITTEE 

O K '1' H K 

CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY HISTORICAL SOCIETY 




FHIN M. MILLEK. 




C] e n t e n n i a 1 Poem 

Prepared for the Centennial Committee of the Historii:.il Society of 
Chautauqua County. 

BY FORREST CRISSEY. 

Copyright, June /J, /goJ, In Phin M. Millrr. 



FORREST CRISSKT. 



A hundred years — how brief a span 

In which to work the magic change 
From wilderness and savage man 

To fruitful field and purpling grange! 

Where now the lakeward-looking hills 

Are wreathed in vines of goodly fame, 
The Red Man fished the lakes and rills. 

And ranged the forest for his game. 

He pitched his summer lodge where now 
The schoolhouse stands, with flying flag; 

And where the vineyards crown the brow 
Of every hill he chased the stag. 

His bruitish war-cry echoed wild 
From every slope, in every dell, 

Where now resound the echoes mild 
Of sacred song and Sabbath bell. 

In hideous dance and savage game 

He gathered at the wood-fringed shore 
Which links Chautauqua's storied name. 
With Learning, Art and ripest lore. 
Where e'er the toiling student lights 

His solitary lamp and gives 
To Learning's court his zealous nights 
The fame of old Chautauqua lives! 

A million clusters load the vines 

Beneath blue Erie's misty wing; 
But better than her rarest wines. 

Chautauqua's larger gift I sing: 

Her pioneers — a noble seed 

From which a harvest rich and great 
Of sturdy sons hath sprung to feed 

The school, the mart, the court, the state! 

Wipe from our country's roll the name 
Of all that dear Chautauqua gave. 

And you will snatch the wreath of Fame 
From Lyon's and from Phillips' grave! 

What though her terraced vineyards spread 
To every 2iill that drinks the sun? 

Of all her gifts, the light she's shed 
On Learning's page is chiefest one! 



INTRODUCTORY 



"Please may I speak? It's necessary !" 

Before the year 1841 there was no written or printed records of the 
names of the teachers. The teacher's roll contained the number of pupils in 
each family, attending school. From this list the rate bill and wood tax 
were made. 

The names of teachers of the Log School-house Period have had to be 
discovered — dug up — gathered from early traditions coming to us from 
former generations. The old boys and girls in the several towns have 
labored faithfully. Those who did the most digging, present the longest 
list of names. Imperfect and incomplete as they may be they are better 
than nothing. It is so much saved to our early school history. Thanks to 
the apostles and saints among the old boys and girls — and some of their 
loyal children — the names of a portion of the teachers in the early years of 
the nineteenth, are preserved and will take their place with those who labor 
in the educational vineyard in the present and coming centuries. 

Wherein the records of the separate schools of the present are brief or 
incomplete, the teachers and school officers have only themselves to praise 
or blame. Failing to receive answers to oft' repeated requests for data, I 
have been forced to make use of report on file in the office of the County 
Clerk. 

This paper is the work of many persons. All that is good may be 
credited to the earnest helpers who have given me intelligent assistance. 
The errors and imperfections will find a shelter with 

Faithfully, 

PHIN M. MILLER. 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND 
EDUCATION. I 802-1 902. 



BY FHIN M. MILLER. 



The person wlio disputes tliat next 
to the foundin,^- of this RepubUc, the or- 
ganization of our system of education 
is the most memorable event in our his- 
tory, will not be found among the sons 
and daughters of the earl\' |)r()])rietors 
of Chautau(|ua County. 

In the forest shade, by the woods 
path marked by blazed trees, was built 
the log school-house of our early his- 
tory. Along the trails leading to it, 
the wild beasts roamed at will. Here 
the children of the early days were 
gathered. It was the treasure house 
of every pioneer settlement. To their 
descendants it is, as it should be, a 
sacred memory. 

All the schools, academies and col- 
leges of our land, where the glad voices 
of happy children and youth greet the 
traveler as he passes through this "land 
of the free," owe their existence to the 
log school-house and the plan of educa- 
tion ])ropose(l and outlined by the early 
proprietors. The plan gave the ali)ha- 
bet to all. The children were on terms 
of equality. The knowledge secured 
was free and ])ure as the water from 
the laughing brooks and wayside 
springs. Sectarian and partisan teach- 
ing was not permitted, while the broad 
principles wdiich all recognize, and the 
elementary knowledge every soul re- 
quires, received careful attention. The 
means of education thus ofifered, with 
proper home influences and the sterling 
qualities developed by the necessi- 



ties of poverty, gave the poor man no 
fear for the fate of his posterity. 

The result has been that the children 
of the poor early settlers have become 
the strong men and women of the na- 
tion, entrancing senates by their elo- 
quence, sitting at the helm of the Ship of 
State, victors on hard-fought battle 
fields, founders of educational institu- 
tions, experts in the useful departments 
of life, and have ])laced in the cherished 
list of immortals, names all delight to 
honor. That gives to Chautauqua 
Count}- an honorable ])lace ; to its peo- 
ple consideration and respect at every 
capital and court of civilization. 

Following the teachings of Washing- 
ton. Jefferson and many other strong 
men of the last half of the eighteenth 
century, as set forth in the propositions : 
That the enlightenment of all the peo- 
ple is the safeguard of the nation ; that 
the intelligent many are better qualified 
to govern than a select few ; — on Jan- 
uary 6, 1795, George Clinton, with other 
a1)le, intelligent and wellknown citizens 
of the state, recommended to Gov. John 
Jay and the members of the Legisla- 
ture then in session, — that provision be 
made by the State Government for the 
encouragement of common schools. 

On April 9, 1797, the General Assem- 
bly of the State of New York passed 
a law which is known as Chapter sixty- 
five of the Laws of 1797, entitled "An 
Act for the encouragement of schools." 
The Holland Dutch, followed by the 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



English, had formed schools in connec- 
tion with their church and parish or- 
ganizations. Anything like a system 
of education for all the people was un- 
known until this action of the General 
Assembly. 

This act provided : That out of the 
annual revenues of the state, the sum 
of twentv thousand lunuids — one hun- 
dred thousand dollars — should be annu- 
ally appropriated for the term of five 
vears, for the purpose of encouraging 
and maintaining schools in the several 
cities and towns of the state, in which 
the children residing in the state should 
be instructed in the English language, 
taught English Grammar, Arithmetic, 
Mathematics and such other branches 
as were most useful and necessar\' to 
com])Iete a good English education. 
The amount of luoney aiii)ortioned to 
( )ntario Count v. of which Chautauqua 
wns then a ])art. was three hundred 
pounds — tifteen hundred dollars. The 
several Boards of Supervisors wer au- 
thorized to receive the amount ai)]ior- 
tioned to the county and distribute the 
same among the several towns. The 
free-holders of each town were empow- 
ered to elect not less than three nor 
more than seven i^ersons, who should 
be known as Conuuissioners of Schools, 
and have sui)ervision of them and the 
distribution of the monev. It was made 
1-iwful for the inhabitants residing in the 
ditTerent parts of any town, to associate 
together for the ])urpose of procuring 
good and sufficient- school-masters, 
building and maintaining schools, to 
a])point two or more persons to act 
in their l)ehalf as Trustees of each 
school "but no ])erson shall be ai)i)ointed 
Trustee, who may be in any other man- 
ner authorized or emi:)Owered to carry 
this act into efTect." The Trustees and 
Coiumissioners selected the teachers 
from those whose abilities and moral 
character met with their approbation. 



No ])upil under four years of age to be 
included in the enumeration, which 
formed the basis of this division of the 
monev appropriated, which was on total 
(lavs' attendance during the year. Spec- 
ial provision, in a former act. having 
been luade for colleges, this act only 
a])i)lied to those where children were 
onlv taught Reading. Writing and 
Arithmetic. 

April 3. i/W, the State Legislature 
passed a law which had for one of its 
]irovisions. the appro])riation of fifty 
thousand dollars to the discharge of the 
sum which became payable on the third 
Tuesdav in March, 1798, under the gen- 
eral act before outlined. Evidently the 
fathers had no thought of turning back 
in the work so thoroughl\' idanned. In 
T803 the ]-)rovisions of the law relating 
to the api^ropriation of twenty thousand 
])oiuids for five years were continued 
along the same general lines until Ajudl 
2, 1805. when Chapter seventy-one of 
the Laws of 1805 was ])asse(l, which set 
apart the net jiroceeds of the sale of 
five hundred thousand acres of land, as 
a fund for common schools, to be in- 
vested b\- the Com])troller, the interest 
to be used in the support of common 
schools. March 7. 1807, by Act of Leg- 
islature, the Com])troller was authorized 
to ])lace all the monc)- arising from 
stock the state held in the Merchants' 
Rank, in the common school fund. 

This is an outline histor\-. in brief, 
of the school s\stem, and condition of 
tlie conmion school interests in the 
State of New York i)rior to 181 2. There 
are no records showing that any of the 
funds apropriated under these several 
acts were used for the support of an^ 
school organized within the limits of 
Chautauc|ua Countw 

The educational, intellectual and mor- 
al giants <jf the luni)ire State who under 
the lead of and advice of Jeremiah Teck 
of (jtsego, and Adam Comstock of 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



Saratoi^a Counties comprehended the 
truth of, and necessity for a system of 
universal education which would edu- 
cate the threat mass of the people ; would 
give an education that would teach 
ol)edience to wholesome laws : develop 
habits which bind the soul to truth and 
duty ; grow moral sentiments that pro- 
mote the principles of liberty, justice 
and humanitv ; that would take into its 
keeping for years the youth of each gen- 
eration who were to be the men and 
women of the next : whose supervision 
extends over the plastic mind of youth 
in its sprin.gtime, when proper seed 
must be intelligently sown and carefully 
develoi)ed if it is to yield a hap])y and 
profitable harvest ; which would la\- the 
foundation of the superstructure of 
character so broad and dee]) that it 
could embrace everything in the realm 
of truth, and whose summit should be 
radiant in the sunlight of eternity. 

These men i)re])ared and submitted 
to the Legislature in 1811, the most 
bountiful, and in many ways the most 
complete system of education ever 
formed. For many weeks and months 
it was the subject of careful considera- 
tion and revision, and final action of the 
Legislature approving it. was not taken 
until lune 19. 1812, which gave to the 
people of the state the law known as 
Chapter 242, being- "An Act for the es- 
tal)lishment of Common Schools." which 
law formed the nucleus of our i)resent 
bounteous system of popular education 
and made it the educational Red Letter 
dav in our state's history. 

This act provided for the classification 
antl consolidation of the several funds 
set apart for school ])urposes : for the 
election of a State Superintendent and 
defining- his duties : the distribution of 
the proceeds of the school fund — none 
to be made until the total amount of 
interest was ecjual to fifty thousand dol- 
lars — subsequent payments to be the 



same until the yearly income was in- 
creased U) sixtv thousand dollars ; this 
rule to ai)plv until the increase in in- 
come reached the sum of ten thousand 
dollars, when this amount should be 
added to form a new l)asis of amount 
to be divided among the schools of the 
state ; the duty of town, countv and 
Roard of Supervisors" Clerks w^as de- 
fined ; the electors of each town to levy 
a tax equal to the amount apportioned 
to the town, the whole to be used in 
the payment of teachers' wages; the 
electors under the law were allowed to 
raise bv a tax a sum equal to twice the 
amount received from the state ; the 
electors at town meeting to elect three 
Commissioners of Schools. The Com- 
missioners' duties were to divide the 
town into school districts, establish and 
change boundaries and call meetings 
in new districts when organized. These 
district meetings had power to locate 
and purchase site, build school-house 
and elect district officers consisting of 
three Trustees, a Collector and a Clerk. 
The electors also chose not less than 
three nor more than six Inspectors of 
Schools, who, with the Commissioners, 
should examine the teachers and 
schools, license the teachers, give ad- 
vice and direction to Trustees as to the 
'--overning of the schools; three mem- 
bers were c(jmpetent to examine teach- 
ers ; no one to be employed who had 
not previously been examined and re- 
ceived a certificate signed by at least 
two members of the Board. Persons 
entitled to vote at town meeting were 
voters at school meeting. The school 
age was from five to fifteen years. The 
records of one town in this countv sh<nv 
that each year from 1814— the year this 
law became of full force and effect in 
this county— to 1843. when the law was 
changed, the following resolution was 
adopted : 

"Resolved. That this town raise all 



10 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



the mcjiiey for school i)uri:)oses the law 
will allow." 

It is a fair i^uess that many other 
towns can show a like record. 

Under the j^rovisions of this law in 
1813 the Legislature elected Gideon 
Hawlev State Superintendent. April 
ninth of the same year a law was passed 
])lacing the net ]:)roceeds received from 
vacant and unappro])riated lands sold 
since A])ril 2, 1805, and so much of the 
residue of said lands as would make 
five hundred thousand acres ; also the 
state portion of the proceeds of the sale 
of lottery tickets, made in 1799 and 
180T. to the credit of the school fund — 
this last item consisted of four lotteries 
of twent\-five thousand dollars each, of 
which the state received seven-eights, 
and one-half of the lottery of one hun- 
dred thousand dollars, making a total 
of one hundred thirt\'-seven thousand 
five hundred dollars. In this we have 
an illustration of the truth of the old 
saw: "Doing ill that good may come:" 
the money came to the school fund, and 
an aroused public opinion repealed the 
lotter}' law, which was followed by a 
constitutional provision against the op- 
eration of a lottery within the state. In 
1841 the law was passed fixing the pav 
of School Inspectors at seventy-five 
cents a day for each full day of actual 
service. April 13, 1819, was jjassed 
Chapter 312. This act consolidated the 
various acts relating to schools here- 
tofore ])assed, and set a])art for school 
purposes the U)ans made pursuant to 
the acts of March 14, \yi)2\ A])ril 11, 
1808; the shares of the capital slock of 
the Merchants" Hank held in the name 
of the i)eoi)Ie of the state, with all other 
grants and a]j])ro])riations as ma\' from 
time to time l)e made for the benefit 
of common schools, including the net 
proceeds of all lands which escheat to 
the state in the military tract; the net 
l)r()cee(ls of fees ol the Clerk of the 



Supreme Court of the State ; one-half 
of all (|uit rents and ccMumutations for 
the same, the same to be known as the 
"School-fund." The total amount in- 
vested under these several acts was. 
in 1820. one million one hundred sev- 
enty-two thousand nine hundred thir- 
teen dollars and thirty-eight cents. 

Chapter one hundred sixty-one of 
Laws of 1819 estal)lishe(I the ol^ce of 
State Superintendent at the seat of 
govenunent and fixed the salary at 
seven hundred dollars a year. The 
amount of interest for distribution 
among the schools in the state in 1820 
was seventy thousand dollars. Dur- 
ing this year the school law was 
amended, makinc- the Insi)ectors of 
Schools the officers to examine and 
license teachers. Chapter three hundred 
forty of Laws of 1821, passed April 
3r(I, abolished the office of State Sup- 
erintendent and placed the duties of the 
office with the Secretary of State. Gid- 
eon Hawdey had held the position dur- 
ing the entire time since the erection of 
the office. Chapter fifty-six of the Laws 
of 1823, passed March 8th, authorized 
the proceeds of all lands purchased by 
the state to be added to the school fund. 
Chapter three hundred thirt\-three of 
Laws of 1824, passed November 27th. 
appro])riated forty thousand dollars, 
which had been raised for a fever hos- 
])ital in Xew York City, but unexpend- 
ed, to the school fund. A])ril 2H, 1826, 
a law was passed providing that all de- 
ficiencies in the commcju school fund 
might be su])plied from the general 
funds of the state. Chapter two hun- 
dred thirty-three of Laws of 1827 
passed A])ril 13th, provided that the bal- 
ance of the loan of 1786 be transferred 
to the connnon school fund, also one 
hundred thousand dollars of the shares 
owned by the state in the ca])ital stock 
of any of the banks at par value. Cha])- 
ter two hundred lhirl\-seven of Laws 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



11 



of 1838, passed April 7th, provided that 
the income of the United States deposit 
fund be api)ropriated to the "purposes 
of education and the diffusion of knowl- 
edge" — this money, the amount of which 
was three and one-half million dollars 
was deposited by the United States 
Government with the State of New 
York under the i)rovisions of an Act of 
Congress i)assed June 2},, 1836. The 
amount of interest from this sum set 
apart for use each year was one hun- 
dred ten thousand dollars for the use 
of schools, and tifty-five thousand dol- 
lars for library purposes. 

The act ijrovided that School Trus- 
tees should be Trustees of the library, 
with power to select a librarian to have 
charge of the library : to select the books 
to be purchased and make rules gov- 
erning the use of them. In 1841 a law 
was passed authorizing the Board of 
Supervisors in each county, to appoint 
a Deputy Superintendent of Common 
Schools. Chapter one hundred thirty- 
three of the Laws of 1843. passed April 
17th, abolished the office of Town Com- 
missioner and Town Inspector, and 
created the office of Town Superintend- 
ent : it also authorized the Board of 
SujKM-visors to appoint a County Super- 
intendent of Schools. Chapter three 
hundred fifty-eight of Laws of 1847, 
passed November 13th. abolished the 
office of County Superintendent. The 
same year the law authorizing the hold- 
ing of teachers' institutes and making 
appropriations for them was passed. 
March 26, 1849. an act was passed es- 
tablishing free schools throughout the 
state. This act was submitted to a 
vote of the people and sustained — in 
consequence of the inequality of taxa- 
tion under the law, the free school sys- 
tem as proposed did not prove satis- 
factory. In 1850 the law was again sub- 
mitted to a vote of the people and 
again sustained. In .Vi)ril, 1851, the free 



school law was repealed and the "rate- 
bill" svstem re-instated. In 1853 a law 
was passed allowing the organization 
of Union Free Schools, subject to cer- 
tain conditions. On March 3, 1854, the 
office of State Superintendent of Pubhc 
Instruction was re-created, and Victor 
M. Rice, a native of Chautauqua Comi- 
ty, was elected Superintendent. Chap- 
ter one hundred seventv-nine of the 
Laws of 1856, passed April 12th, abol- 
ished the office of Town Superintendent 
and created the office of School Com- 
missioner. Chapter one hundred eighty 
of the same date, iM-ovided that the 
tax rate for common schools should be 
three-fourths of one mill. Chapter 
t went v-f our of Laws of 1862 shows that 
the three-fourths of one mill tax rate 
produced the sum of one million eighty- 
one thousand three hundred twenty-five 
dollars for school puri)oses. Chapter 
five hundred fifty-five of the Laws of 
1864 is the General Act for organization 
of l^nion Free Schools. Chai)ter four 
hundred sixty-six of Laws of 1866, 
passed April 7th, provided for the erec- 
tion of four Normal and Training 
Schools in the state, one of which was 
located at hVedonia, in this county. 
Chapter four hundred six of the Laws 
of 1867, passed April i6th, gave to the 
state free schools. In brief, the law 
]:)rovided that after using the public 
money as provided by law, all deficien- 
cies should be met by a tax on tlx' i)ro- 
pertv of the district. Chapter two hun- 
dred twenty-three of same year author- 
ized the Village of Fredonia to raise 
one hundred thousand dollars to aid in 
the construction of a State Normal and 
Training School building. Chapter four 
hundred twenty-one of Laws of 1874. 
passed May nth, entitled "An Act to 
secure to children the benefits of ele- 
mentary education," was the first step 
leadinp- to compulsory education. Chap- 
ter nine of Laws of 1880, passed Feb- 



12 CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 

rLUir\' I2tli, was an act entitled "An the last century, which have iL^iven us 

Act to declare women eli^T^ible to serve our extensive, well reijulated. bounteous 

as school trustees." Chapter thirty of and "free to all" system of education. 

Laws of 1884, passed March lOth, was When the school district, which fcjr 

an act relatintj to the studv of physiol- nearly an hundred years has been the 

of^y and hvg'iene in the public schools, unit of representation — and as such has 

Chapter six hundred fiftv-five of Laws served us so well — shall, by reason of 

of 1886, passed June 15th, defines leg-al our chaui^ed i)hysical and economic con- 

\'oters in school districts includim;- resi- ditions, make way for a township sys- 

(lent women liable for tax. Chai)ter tern or unit, there will be no more edu- 

three hundred thirt\-five of Laws of cational worlds to con(|uer. Then we 

1887, is an act relative to the employ- will become what we claim to be, the 

ment of teachers and pay of same in educational Em])ire .State of the World, 

the public schools. Cha])ter five hun- The first e])och in our school history 

dred of Laws of 1893, passed April 2(jth. extends from 1802 to 1825, and may 1)e 

chang'ed the time for h(^lding annual truthfull\- named the Log" School-house 

meetings ; the ending of school year and Period of our historv and educational 

time of making annual reports. Cha])- life. These colleges of the common i)eo- 

ter five hundred fifty-six of Laws of ])le were houses sixteen or eighteen feet 

1894, is an act to revise, amend and con- in width by twenty-two to twenty-four 

solidate the general acts relating to inib- feet in length, Innlt of logs to the 

lie instruction under the general title of height of eight feet for side walls, the 

"The Consolidated School Law." Cha]v ends above being fore-shortened to con- 

ter two hundred twenty-two of Laws of form to the slant of the roof, which 

i8q=;. i^assed A])ril 3rd, was an act to was made of "shakes" — s])lit from logs 

l)rovide for the onrchase and disi)lay of of straight grain — these were held in 

Cnited States flags in connection with place by poles laid lengthwise of the 

the i)ublic schools of the state. Cha])- roof. At one end was built a stone or 

ter one hundred ninety-five of Laws of stick chimnew with a stone fire-place 

1807, passed April 7th, was an act em- and projecting hearth-stone; above this 

powering voters of Cni(~)n I^ree Schools there was a hole in the roof to allow 

to ])rovi(le text books fcjr i)upils by tax the smoke to go out and incidentall\- 

on the ])roi)erty of the district. Chap- the rain and snow to come in. The 

ter four hundred eight\'-one of Laws windows were five in number, two on 

of i8y8, is an act to encourage patriotic each side and one at the end o])posite 

exercises in the i)ublic schools of the the fire-place ; these had each four lights 

state. The general appropriation bill of the regulation size of seven by nine 

of 1902 set apart the sum of two hun- inches. If glass could not be ])rocured, 

dred fiit\' thousand dollars to be used in oiled ])a])er was used as a substitute, 

increasing the tc-achers' (|uotas in the ddie door was made of "shakes" fas- 

])ul)lic schools of the state. tened together with wooden ])egs, hung 

d hese acts, with other s])ecial acts on wood hinges with wooden latch and 

and i)r(ndsions relating to the library latch string of buckskin. The furnish- 

and school tunds ; si)ec'al acts for or- ings of the school-room were not elab- 

ganization of acadenfies and Cnion orate or extensive: they made u]i in 

Schools, with certain amendments of strength and sim])licit\- what they lacked 

minor im])ortance, are an outline of the in elegance and convenience. The s])lit 

laws i)laced on our statute l)ooks during ])lank or "shake" extended along three 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



13 



sides of the room resting" on wooden 
stays and peg's driven into holes hored 
in the logs, forming the walls, furnished 
the desks. The seats were of the same 
material with legs adjusted in length to 
suit the size of the larger pupils ; the 
smaller ones could let their "feet swing." 
The floor outside the stone hearth was 
of split logs. The cracks in the walls 
between the logs were closed by a free 
use of mud. The broom was a birch 
splint ; the chair frame for the use of 
the teacher had a s])lint bottom made 
of black ash. The items of expense con- 
sidered bv the proprietors at their an- 
nual meetings were for repairs and fur- 
nishings. These were liid otT at auc- 




INTEKIOR LOG S(l HOOL-HOU.SK. 

tion to the lowest l)idder. The record 
cf one school meeting held in iHiC) 
shows one dollar and eighty cents as 
the |)rice of chinking the cracks ; the 
furnishinp-s of broomis for the }'ear, for- 
ty-seven cents, while the re-bottoming 
of the chair was twenty-one cents. The 
bunch of birch sprouts, the dunce block 
and fools-cap, were provided b\' the 
teachers as a portion of their "kit of 
tools" to be used in their business, and 
were withotit expense to the proprietors 
beyond the extra wear and tear to the 
jackets of the pupils. 

The text ])ooks for use were the 
American Preceptor, Dillworth and 
Webster's Spelling ]^)Ook, Pike and Da- 



boU's Arithmetic, Morse' American 
Geography. Writing was done by pens 
made from goose-quills, on sheets of 
unruled paper of about the size of fools- 
cap ; the ink was a preparation of soft 
maple or black alder bark. These were 
the facilities and conveniences pre^vided 
in the formative period, the beginning 
of our edttcational existence and his- 
tory. 

Humble as it may seem, this was the 
golden age of the three R's. All that 
we are, all the we hope to be in edu- 
cation, intelligence and civilization, we 
owe to the principles of moralitv, in- 
dustry, truth, honor and liberty that 
were so strongly developed during the 
Log School-house Period of our his- 
tory. 

In a log house built in 1802 by James 
McMahan, at a point about one mile 
west of the center of the \'illage of 
Westfield, at the place then known as 
the "Cross-roads," during the summer 
of 1803, William Murray, who by rea- 
son of his physical infirmities was un- 
able to join in the work of clearing 
away the forest, was selected to take 
charge of the children of the little set- 
tlement to prevent their being lost in 
the interminable woods, and incidental- 
ly teach them their letters. This was the 
first effort in the direction of a school, 
made by the early settlers in what is 
now Chautaucjua County. Like efforts 
were made at the "Cross-roads" and at 
Canadaway, now Fredonia, in the vears 
following, up to 1806. 

The first school organized under the 
act of the General Assembly, passed in 
1797. in Chautauqua County, was at the 
"Cross-roads," in 1807. The teacher 
was Miss Anna Eaton. She was born 
in Framingham, Massachusetts. In 
company with her father and brother, 
she settled in the now Town of Portland 
in 1806. She engaged in teaching at the 
"Cross-roads" in the now Town of 



14 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



Westfield in 1807. In 1808 she taught 
a term of school at Coh's Station, a set- 
tlement six miles south of Xorth East, 
Erie County, Pennsylvania. In 1809 
she was engaged in teaching in the now 
Town of Ripley in a log house standing 
near the Village of Ripley. In 1810 
she taught the first school in the now 
Town of Portland in a log house built 
l)v Capt. James Dunn. She continued 
her school work until 1815, when she 
married Solomon Nichols and removed 
to Whitestown, now Whitesboro, Onei- 



state was one million one hundred sev- 
entv-two thousand nine hundred thir- 
teen dollars and twenty-eight cents with 
a revenue of eightv-one thousand seven 
hundred fifty-six dollars and twenty- 
cents. In 1821 there were eleven towns 
in the county with one hundred twenty- 
eight school districts. There were one 
hundred seventeen log school-houses. 
The average time school was taught 
during the year was six months ; the 
nund)cr of i)upils in attendance was 
thirtv-nine hundred sixtv-cight ; the 




YE OLDEN TI 

da County, New York. This estimable 
woman was the i)ioneer teacher of 
Chautau(|ua Coimtv. She died in 1834 
In 1810 the total amount of nK)ne}- 
invested for schools in the State of Xew 
York was four hundred eighty-three 
thousand three hundred eighty-six dol- 
lars and twentv-nine cents, the revenue 
from which was thirty-six thousand four 
hundred twenty-seven dollars and sixty- 
four cents. At that time there were ten 
schools in the two towns — Chautauc|ua 
and Pomfret- — in Chautauqua County. 
In 1820 the total am(nmt invested in the 



ME SCHOOL. 

amount of i)ublic money received was 
nine hundred sevent\-five dollars and 
forty-five cents. 

In the following list of names of 
teachers doin;^- work in the several 
towns during the early days and Log 
School-house Period, tlie year follows 
the name of the ]U'rson believed to 
have been the first teacher in the terri- 
tory of the present town. Kiantone i.s 
classed with Carroll, Dunkirk with 
Pomfret and Jamestown with Ellicott. 

1 owe much to the assistance and 
])ainstaking efi'ort of many o{ the "old 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



15 



boys and girls" as well as those of A. Jones, Horace Jones, Hiram Aiken, 

younger years, who have helped to gath- Elisha Hall, Abner Jones, James Boyd, 

er this record. While it is not com])lete, Amasa West. 

it is better than none. To those who Charlotte — William Gilmonr, 1813; 

could have given other names and have h'anny Edson, Eliakim Eorbush, Emil}- 

Perry, Malinda Patterson, Daniel B. 
Lake, Peter Robertson, Erancis Burns, 
Philii^ S. Cottle, Madison Burnell, Sam- 
uel T. Boothe, Curtis Black, Luthena 
P. Lake. 

Chautauqua — Rev. Amasa West, 
Jonathan Leet, Ebenezer Curtice, John 
E. Marshall. Simeon Leet, Liscomi:) 
Weeks, Henry P. Sartwell, Glenni W. 
Scofield. Timothy Leet, Eliza Leet, John 
E. Phelps, Eranklin Leet, \\'illiam Leet, 
Sarah A. Morris. 

[I am unable to give the name of the first teacher in 
Chautauqua town. There was a school there in 1809 but 
I am unable to give the name of the teacher. Rev. West 
taught there in 1811. J 

Cherry Creek — Reul)en Cheney, l8l8; 
Angeline Pickering, Charles B. Green, 
\\''il]iam Latliroi), Jarvis Nash, Paul 



MADISON HURNKLL. 




neglected to do so, we say : "There is 
no kick coming from you!" The manv 
who have labored earnestly to secure 
what we have, know the effort it has 
taken. 

Arkwright — Horace Clough, iSii; 
Lucy Dewey, T^irthena P)ald\vin, Levi 
Baldwin, Chauncey Tucker, Andrus H. 
Huvck, Timothy Cole, James Sprague. 

Busti — Olive Marsh, 1813; Ransom 
J. Smith, ILsther Thompson, Clarissa 
Blodgett, David Hatch, Clark Smith, 
Harry Abl)ott, Theron S. Bly, Orsel 
Cook, H. Clifford. Emri Davis, h^rank 
Kidder. 

Carroll and Kiantone — Stephen Rog- 
ers, 1813; George W. Eenton, Lucy 
Woodcock, Elias Woodcock, Edward 
Aiken, Josiah Hall, James Hall. Jona- 
than Wilson, Lovain Danforth, xMaria 




ANGELINE PICKERING. 

First school teacher in the town of Cherry Creek. 



Hanunond, George Spencer, Royal 
Pierce. Sarah A. Blaisdell, Dolly Shat- 
Merrell, Jane Darling, Rebecca Jones, tuck. 

Amos Wheeler, Orson Weatherly, Wil- CKmcr — Marie Stowe, 1822; Ros- 

liam Aiken, Eletcher Halliday, Esther well \'anBuren, Warren Street, Olive 



16 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



Dexter, Ira F. Gleason, Beman Rrock- 
way, Jesse Brown, Hercules Rice, Henry 
R. Rice, Cornelia Rice. Lucy E. Phin- 
ney, Ann Doolittle, Betsey Norris, L 
L. Hager, Mary Sessions, David L. 
Gleason. 

Ellery — Dr. Lazarus Carey, 1808; 
Calvin Cheney, Eunice Cheney. Emily 
Bird, Nathan Chenev. J. Perkins. Maria 
Savag-e, C. G. Maples, Frank Burns. 
Emeline Strong, Patty Sacket. 

Ellicott and Jamestown — Rev. Amasa 
West, 1814; Al)ner Hazeltine, Levi 
Cheney, John F. Allen. Austin Xclson, 
Thomas Walkup, Orrel Green. Rebecca 




SOLO.Mo.N J ONES. 



Hayward. James I'outelle. Phili]) Smith, 
John Hawlev. Lewis C. Todd, hdisha 
Hall, Isaac Eddy, Henry Gifford. Sam- 
uel Brown, Richard F. Fenton, Solo- 
mon Jones. 

Ellington — Milo Cam]). 1817; Polly 
Forbes, David Clark S])ear, Lovahan- 
na Abbey. Lucretia Abbey, Emeline 
Wheeler, Adaline Page. Peter Inger- 
sol. Sedate Foote, Jane Bailey, Lovina 
Cam]), l^hilena h^oote. Harriet A. Nich- 
ols, Lernah Lawrence, Hull Nickur- 
son, Alfonso Nickurson, Joseph Pal- 
mer. John Ball, ]nhn E. l^^arman, Peter 
Robinson. Calvin KiuQslev. Harriet E. 



Baldwin. Elvira Rider. Eliza Ann Good- 
win, Charles D. Foote, Angeline Le- 
Barron. 

French Creek— R. Chitsey, 1818; Pol- 
ly h'orbes, Ande Noble, Polly Jones. 
Cordelia French. Katharine Terry, Wil- 
liam S. Rice, Mary Terry, Laura Rice, 
J. C. Moses, M. A. Knowlton, Maria 
Nobles, Eliza Wilson, Esther Gleason, 
Albert Bush, Harrison Bennett, David 
L. Gleason. Luceba Kellogg. 

Gerrv — Hannah Johnson. 1817; Wil- 
liam Mullen, Hull Nickurson, Ezra 
Richmond, Minor Savage, Hiram Aik- 
en, William Shepardson, Louisa Walk- 
up, Betsey Gilmour, Hiram Sears, Carey 
Briggs, Orsamus White. Rowland Cobb. 

Hanover — John S])rague. 1808; Mrs. 
Nancy Hall, Richard Smith, Philena 
Johnson. P)ertha Rice, Lyman Gregory, 
Donald Tohnson, ImuII}' ITask. Beimctt 
Radford. Jarius Har.dy. Chalon liur- 
gess. Czarina lUirgess, ^Marietta Blod- 
gett. William Waith, William Hall, B. 
C. Pierce. Julius (iould, Lewis Merritt. 
Samuel Burdick. Samuel Ellis, Soph- 
rona Gater. 

Plarmon}- — Abigail Durfee, 1813; 
Eben Pratt, Electa Jenner, Sarah Marsh, 
Jesse Smith, Samuel Brown, John 
Steward, ( )rsel Cook, Abner Lewis. 
Jane Marsh. Adeline Muzzy. Sophia 
Muzzy. Daniel Glidden. William Kelso 

Mina — Elisha Moore. 1823: Samuel 
Dickerson, Cornelia Woodlmll, Jane 
Carnehan, Jane McCormick, Armelia 
Hawley, David Waldo, Susan Stone, 
Elizabeth Stafford, Hartwell Haskell, 
Kasiah Nason, Sarah Pullman. Deborah 
Pullman, Susan Dobson, Elizabeth 
Jackson, jannett I'artlett, George H. 
Collyer. 

Poland — Petsey Tracy. 1816; hdetch- 
er l-'enton. W. H. h^enton, Joel Camp. 
Edward Hicks. Theda Palmer, Mrs. 
John True, vSarah Griswold, Nancy 
Smith. E. G. Terry, Nelson Rowe, Em- 
ory I*". Warren, Phoebe Parker, Loro- 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



17 



hama Abbey, Seth W. Chandler, Har- 
riet Baldwin, Lovisa Camp. 

Pomfret and Dunkirk — Samuel Berry 
1809; Mrs. Olive Woodcock, Nathaniel 
Gray, S. Fitch, Marietta Blodgett. 
George S. Porter, George Leonard, 
George W. Gage, John P. Hall, Hiram 
Couch, Thomas Adams, William H. 
Cutler, Betsey Batcheller, Manerva 
Willoughby. 

Portland — Anna Eaton, 1810; Au- 
gustine Klumph, Polly Price, David 




JULIUS GOULD. 

Eaton, Ethan Fay, Silas Dinsmore, 
Luke Drury, Manerva Willoughby, Miss 
Kimball, (jillett Bacon, Jewett P'rime. 
John Xcvens, Hugh Lowry, Matilda. 
Hulbert, Mary A. Drake, John Rice, 
Nathaniel Lowery, Betsey Thayer, Aus- 
tin Stone, Waterman Delee, Alexander 
Montgomery, Julia A. Tower, Peleg 
Whitteridge. 

Ripley — Anna Eaton, 1809; Anna 
Riddell, Polly Shipboy, Lucinda Nich- 
ols, James Macomber. 



Sheridan — Squire White, 1808; Wil- 
liam Griswold, Julius Gould, James 
Gould, Jane Darling, Newel Gould, Wil- 
liam King, Dr. Skinner, H. Rice, Sey- 
mour Fitch, Marilla Gray, Lydia Spen- 
cer, Lydia Willoughby. 

Sherman — Otis Skinner, 1828; Susan 
Aldrich, Simeon Parks, Mary Parks, 
Mary Pelton, Lydia McClanathan, Ada- 
line Troop, Lydia A. Tanner, Achsah 
Dean, Harvey Sheldon, David Stone, 
Henry Blackman, Uriah S. LaDue, 
Chauncey Sheldon. 

Stockton — xA.bigail Durfee, 1815; 
Hannah Johnson, Horace Thompson, 
E. S. Eddy, E. P. Stedman, Isaac An- 
drus, i'j. Todd, H. Crissey, A. Morse, 
Rozina Lyon, Amy Barnes, Sarah John- 
son, Pomilla Shepard, Polly Shepard, 
Betsey P. Ketchum, Jedidiah Post, L. 
Bump, Philip S. Cottle, Austin Jen- 
nings, Mordecai Look, Lorain Dan- 
forth, Hervey Johnson, Ansel Burr. 

Villenova — Mrs. Elizabeth Brown- 
Battles, 1817; John Prosser, Althia 
Spink, Adaline Tripp, Abigail Dibble, 
A(lol])hus Lummis, Francis A. Dighton, 
Lucius Jones, Royal Pierce, Thomas 
Wilson, Luther B. Scott, Augustus Par- 
sons, Willshear Butterfield, John C. 
I)il)l)le, W. A. Gilbert, Harvey Mallory, 
James Tower, Betsey Phillips, T. H. 
Searl. 

Wcstfield — Anna Eaton, 1807; 
Amasa West, Polly Shipboy, Julia Bai- 
ley, Ephraim Cook, Austin Stone, Silas 
Spencer, Luke Drury, Wiseman C. 
Nichols, Harvey Newcomb, J. Sackett, 
Walter H. Bidwell, Asa Hall. 

The last log school-house in the first 
or west commissioner district, to make 
wav for the red school-house, was lo- 
cated in School District Thirty-one of 
the Town of Harmony, and known as 
the "Cherrv" District, from the fact 
that the building was constructed of 
cherry logs. The last teacher on guard 
in the old "Cherrv" was Miss Lucinda 



18 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



Smith, now Mrs. A. C. Robertson of 
Ashville. This log fortress surrendered 
in 1866. The last log school-house in 
the Second or Eastern District was lo- 
cated in District Number Ten, Carroll. 
It was given over "to the bats and 
moles" in 1885. Miss Carrie Wood 
now Mrs. Merriam of Falconer, was 
the last teacher in a log school-house in 
Chautauqua County. 

It is an "oft-told tale" that during 
the winter of 1808 and 1809 George W. 
Fenton, father of the late Gov. R. E. 
Fenton, taught school in the now Town 
of Carroll ; that many of the large boys, 
having no shoes, came to school bare- 
footed ; that after stamping the snow 
from their feet on the hearthstone of 
the fireplace, they were quite comfort- 
able during school hours. While there 
may be no question about the barefoot- 
ed boys, we are of the opinion that the 
date is "a bit early" as there is scarce 
a record of settlement at that time. It 
is an unquestioned fact of history, that 
George W. Fenton taught the first 
school in what is now the boro of War- 
ren, Warren County, Pennsylvania, dur- 
ing the winter of 1806 and 1807. Much 
as we may dislike to surrender the hon- 
or, it is possible that it was the Pennsyl- 
vania boys who executed the ''barefoot 
act" above referred to. To save our 
reputation for tough-footed boys, it is 
better that we fix the date as 1814, at 
which time George W. Fenton lived in 
Carroll, was a teacher, and there were 
as husky boys in the settlement as could 
be found in this or the neighboring 
state. 

The early teachers during the Log 
School-house Period, were ])aid from 
twenty-five to fifty cents per day and 
boarded around the district. Twenty- 
four days were a school month ; teach- 
ers were often paid in farm products at 
the market price, at the "cash and bar- 
ter" store of the settlement. In 1819 



Fletcher Fenton taught school in the 
now Town of Poland. He received ten 
dollars a month for twenty-four days 
and accepted his pay in shingles at fifty 
cents a thousand. The holidays during 
the year were Fourth of July, Thanks- 
giving and Christmas. 

Mrs. John True, an early teacher in 
the Town of Poland, could manage the 
big boys. One day she took the largest 
boy — a full-grown man — by his coat 
collar and seat of his trousers, bundled 
him through the door and took her boot 
away from him as he was going out. 
Evidently Mrs. True could answer to 
the name of "School-master." 

Miss Minerva Willoughby in the sum- 
mers of 1817 and 1818, taught school in 
what is known as the Willoughby Dis- 
trict. She received fifty cents a week 
and boarded herself. Money being, 
scarce, she took her pay from a store in 
Fredonia. She accepted a wheel-head 
a pair of cards — for preparing ilax for 
spinning — and a bake-kettle, all of 
which she found useful after her mar- 
riage to Joseph \'an \'leit, which oc- 
curred in i8i<). Their daughter, now 
Mrs. S. \'. Barton of Westfield, taught 
a school at Wright's Corners in this 
county in 1853, receiving one dollar and 
a half a week, and boarded around, an 
increase in wages of over two hundred 
per cent, in thirty-five years. 

Educationally considered, the second 
epoch in our history is the Red School- 
house Period, extending from 1825 to 
the present time. The first little red 
school-house erected in Chautauqua 
County was built in the Bowdish Dis- 
trict in the Town of Portland in 181 7. 
The name of the first teacher was Luke 
Drury. As these people's colleges were 
as near "alike as two peas,'' a descrip- 
tion of one of them built in 1821 will be 
sufficient and incidentally give an in- 
sight into the way the ])roi)rietors at- 
tended to the work before them. The 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



19 



specifications were "the building to be 
twenty-four by twenty feet, framed with 
g-ood hunber, studded and iM-aced ; posts 
ten feet long ; to be sided with good 
white pine siding; floor to be double, 
the upper part of white ash ; to be ceiled 
on the inside up to the windows ; arched 
overhead ; to be lathed and plastered ; 
chimney to be built of brick ; six twelve 
lighted windows, glass eight by ten in- 
ches, and four panes of glass over the 
outside door ; an entry way and closet 
on the other side of the chimney ; cov- 
ered with pine shingles ; to be under- 
pinned witji stone, a tlitch dug to the 
hard ])an to lay stone in. the wall to be 
laid in mortar and to l)c pointed with 
lime above the ground." The inside 
was to be finished after ])lans furnished. 




AN IDEAL RED SCHOOL HOUSE. 

Located in District Vo. IS, Town of Hanover — Only re- 
maining red school-house in Chautauqua County. 

which provided for a row of desks and 
seats made from ]iine boards extend- 
ing along three sides of the room. In 
front of the desk was a low seat for the 
small pupils. There was a cross-legged 
pine top table for the teacher's use. 
The contract price for the building was 
two hundred thirty-nine dollars, to be 
paid in black salts of lye at the selling 
price, one-half on the first day of Sep- 
tember, 1821, and the remainder the 
year following. 

In 1824. the plate, box or Franklin 
stove made its appearance in the school- 
rooms, doing away with the fire-place 
with andirons. Blackboards "were dis- 
covered" and placed on the wall back of 



the teacher's desk, in 1830. In 1838 the 
library money became available. A li- 
brarian was appointed, who, with the 
three School Trustees constituted the 
board to make the selection of books 
to form the school district library. In 
those days newspapers were scarce and 
magazines unknown. The home collec- 
tion of books in an intelligent and well- 
regulated family, consisted of a copy 
of the Bible, hymn-book, Shakespeare, 
Baxter's Call to the Unconverted. The 
Pilgrim's Progress, Aesop's Fables and 
Young's Night Thoughts, while in 
many these were not to be found. With 
these conditions facing the book com- 
mittee there was small demand for the- 
orv in the discharge of their duty. The 
time spent in making a wise — or other- 
wise — selection of books was no "con- 
tinuous round of pleasure" or season 
of "smiles and buttered parsni])s." The 
result of their labors is told in the fol- 
lowing list of books selected : Hume's 
Historv of Fngland ; Rawling's Ancient 
History, Erskine's Speeches, Life of 
Patrick Henry, Jefferson's Notes on 
\'irginia. Life of Benjamin Franklin, 
Life of Francis Marion and Pope's 
Essav on !Man. 

These books and others of like char- 
acter added each year, furnished the 
intellectual food to the people of Chau- 
tauqua Ce^unty for a quarter of a cen- 
tury. Not till after 1850 was the news- 
paper available to the common people 
as a medium of information and edu- 
cation. 

The result of this condition was the 
development of a race of moral and in- 
tellectual giants. Our common schools 
have been the foundation stone on 
which has been built our entire school 
edifice. They have been to society 
what the root is to the tree. They have 
been the source of our moral, social and 
intellectual life. It is an inspiration to 
see them bearing their wealth of lion- 



20 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



ors in the tjlorious sunlight of this gen- 
eration. 

The text books in use in the early days 
of the Red School-house Period, were 
the English Reader, Columbian Spel- 
ling Book, Daboll and Adams's Arith- 
metic. Olney's Atlas and Geography, 
Murray. Kirkham, Bullion and Smith's 
Grammars, soon followed by Wel:)ster's 
and Cobb's Speller. Many of the "old 
bovs and girls" remember "Pity the so,r- 
rows of a poor old man ;" "I am mon- 
arch of all I survey ;" "The Lord my 
pasture shall prepare and feed me with 
a shepherd's care," and other choice 
selections from the English Reader, and 
never forgetting the picture in the 
Spelling Book, and the words of the old 
man, who is made to say : "Well ! 
Well ! If neither words nor tufts of 
grass will do, I will try what virtue there 
is in stone ! Whereupon he pelted the 
young saucebox until he was glad to 
hasten down from the tree and beg 
the old man's pardon." In 1845 Town's 
Elementary Chart was j^laced in the 
school-room. 

Town's and Sander's series of Read- 
ers and Spellers, Robinson's and Dav- 
ies's series of Arithmetics, Colburn's 
Mental Arithmetic, Morse's New Edi- 
tion of Geography, Brown's Grammar. 
Olmstead's Philosophy and Young's 
Science of Government followed for a 
series of years. These made way — and 
incidentally trouble to teacher — for the 
Union and Parker and Watson's series 
of Readers and Spellers, Monteith's and 
McXally's Geographies, Covell, Weld 
and Clark's Grammars — the latter with 
its varied supply of sausage-link dia- 
grams. This mixed and unsatisfactory 
combination was in use in the schools 
until t866, when an effort was made by 
the most experienced teachers in the 
county, to secure a uniformity of text 
books for all the schools. The books 
selected were the Union Series of Read- 



ers and Spellers, Robinson's Course of 
Mathematics, Monteith and McNally's 
series of Geographies, Kerl's Grammar. 
Ouackenbos's United States History 
Dalton's Physiology, Well's Philos- 
ophy, Townsend's Civil Government, 
Spencerian Copy Books and Webster's 
Dictionary. 

Later changes have been made to 
meet the demands recjuired in the devel- 
opment of the arts and sciences, but 
the system of text books is now prac- 
tically uniform in all the ]:)ublic schools 
of the county. The net result of this 
uniformity ma^■ be seen in the following 
comparison. In the years from 1835 
to 1865 in a school of fifty pupils, there 
were not less than thirty-six classes, 
while in 1902. the number of classes 
or periods, is less than twenty. As an 
object lesson illustrating the great 
changes that have ])een made, I r|uote 
from a letter written by the late Hon. 
Henry C. Lake : 

"In the year 1843 I taught a school 
four months, and had an average at- 
tendance of one hundred and six pupils 
with no assistant, with scholars from 
their letters to philosophy, chemistry 
and algebra. It was horrid ! and the 
wonder was, I had the reputation of 
teaching a good school. Now, in the 
same territory they have a L'nion 
School, with not much larger attend- 
ance, where they employ eight teach- 
ers." 

With the increase of poi)ulation in 
the cities and villages of the county, 
the red school-house gave place to more 
pretentious buildings, in which were or- 
ganized graded District Schools of two, 
three or more departments, known as 
primary, intermediate and higher. 
These were the advance guard of school 
l^rogress during the years extending 
from 1840 to 1855. 

Much as I would like to do so, it is 
outside the range of reasonable possi- 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



21 



bilities for me to give the names of the 
earnest and painstaking teachers who 
did work in our schools during the Ht- 
tle red school-house period. The list 
would l)e a directory of a large portion 
of the intelligent men and women who 
have lived in our county in the last 
seventy-five years. The records have 
been secured which will furnish the 
names of this army of educators, should 
the\' be desired. 

The saying "Facts are stubborn 
things" was entirely true when lodged 
in the hearts and brains of the settlers, 
or proprietors, as they were then called. 
It must not be thought that the organ- 
ization of schools, the selection and re- 
moval of school sites, and the building 
of school-houses were accomplished 
without friction, caused always, almost 
always, by an honest difference of opin- 
ion ; that school officers rested on beds 
of roses during their term of of^ce. The 
Holland Land Company was liberal to 
church and school. Any land, to the 
extent of one-fourth of an acre, re- 
quired for school purposes was given, 
provided the site required had not been 
"articled" to a settler. If this had been 
done it was not a difficult task to ar- 
range with the settler to move his fence 
back and sell to the district a small 
patch of land on which a school-house 
coukl be built. 

To change the location of a site, 
when once occupied, was an entirely dif- 
ferent proposition. Each settler wished 
the school in his immediate vicinity, and 
an effort to make a change was the 
cause of contests that were sharj), se- 
vere and sometimes long continued. 
It became a saying, which was true in 
letter and spirit, "it is easier to move 
a burying ground than to change the 
site for a school-house." I am per- 
mitted to quote the words of Dr. H. C. 
Taylor in his excellent history of the 
Town of Portland, relating to the loca- 



tion of school-houses. What was true 
of one is true of all the towns. He 
says : 

"In searching the various school rec- 
ords in the town, a large amount of 
shrewdness is seen to have existed and 
shar]) practice resorted to, in determin- 
ing the sites of their houses that might 
have been no discredit, as far as ability 
was concerned, to the titled representa- 
tives of the same rural constituencv." 

While this was true as regards loca- 
tion of a site, the time to discover 
"blood on the moon" was when an 
effort was made to change the site. To 
the credit of the proprietors be it said 
"the majority ruled," and recourse to 
law, always an expensive luxury, to pre- 
vent the carrying out the will of the 
majority, "fairly expressed," was sel- 
dom known ; but, it was wonderful what 
possibilities for discussion and differ- 
ence of opinion clustered around the 
words: "Fairly expressed." With this 
point settled all else was harmonious. 

From the time of the organization of 
our schools in 1814 to 1841, their sup- 
ervision was by Town Commissioners 
and Inspectors. In the latter year a 
Deputy Superintendent for the county 
was elected by the Board of Su])ervis- 
ors. In 1843 a County Superintendent 
of School was elected by the P.oard, 
and a Town Superintendent for each 
town, by the electors at Town Meeting 
The list of names of Superintendents 
elected in the several towns of the coun- 
ty is : Arkwright, Isaac C. Cole ; Rusti, 
Hiram E. Knap]) ; Carroll, David Povd; 
Charlotte, Ransom Burnell ; Chautau- 
qua, Oliver P. Harwood ; Cherry Creek, 
Jarvis Nash ; Clymer, Artemas Ross ; 
Ellcry, George W. Grififith ; Ellicott, 
Rufus Jones : Ellington, Harris Aldrich ; 
French Creek, David L. Gleason ; 
Gerry, Hiram Sears ; Hanover, Amos 
K. Avery; Harmony, Abner Lewis, 
Mma, Orvis Mann; Poland, Jarius 



22 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



Briggs; Pomfret, George Latlirop ; 
Portland, Joseph Corell ; Ripley, Al- 
bert Dickson; Sheridan, Newel Gould; 
Sherman, Richard Buss; Stockton, 
Judge L. Bugbee ; Villenova, Oren S. 
Harmon; Westfield, C. C. Burch. 

In the year 1856 the ofifice of School 
Commissioner was created, one being 
elected in each Assembly District. The 
names of those holding the office in this 
county are: First District, Amasa 
Moses, George W. Putnam, Charles 
Hathaway. Phin M. Miller, Alonzo C. 
Pickard, Henry O. Ames, Thomas J. 
Pratt, Charles H. Wicks. 

Second District— Orsamus A. White, 
Lucius Hurlbut, Andrew P. White, 
James McNaughton, Wellington Wood- 
ward, Lucius M. Robertson. J. Ebene- 
zer Almy, Emmons J. Swift. Chapter 
two hundred sixty-three of the Laws of 
1885 reorganized the School Commis- 
sioner . Districts, making the number 
three, in the county. The names of 
Commissioners since the re-organiza- 
tion are : 

First District — Charles H. Wicks, 
Clyde C. Hill. Grant E. Neill, Pratt J. 
Marshall. 

Second District — Emmons J. Swift, 
Winfield A. Holcomb. 

Third District— James R. Flagg, 
James S. Wright. 

The first Teachers' Institute in Chau- 
tauqua County was held at Mayville 
in October, 1846. The of^cers were 
Worthy Putnam, County Superintend- 
ent ; Darwin A. Eaton, Principal ; John 
C. Moses, Ebenezer Curtice, First As- 
sistants ; Stephen H. Shaw, Fordyce A. 
Allen, John Phetteplace, W. S. Bradley, 
George G. Blanchard, Richmond Put- 
nam, Mary R. Terry and Adaline 
Muzzy, Second Assistants. There were 
one hundred twenty-four teachers in 
attendance. In 1847, the state having 
made an appropriation for the supjiort 
of Institutes, the session was held at 



Mavville with same Superintendent, 
Principal and First Assistants. The 
Second Assistants were Emerson W. 
Keyes, George H. Collier, F. A. Allen, 
H. S. Bradley, Loren B. Sessions, Mary 
R. Terry, Catharine Terry, Adaline 
AIuzzv and Clarissa Harris. The lec- 
turers were David P. Page and Darwin 
A. Eaton of the Albany Normal School ; 
L. M. Curtice and \'ictor M. Rice of 
Buffalo ; Worthy Putnam and James 
Parker of Chautauqua. There were 
one hundred sixty-six teachers en- 
rolled. 

The a1)olishing of the office of Coun- 
ty Superintendent in 1847 left the edu- 
cational interests without a recog- 
nized head in separate counties until 
1856, when the office of School Com- 
missioner was created. Soon after. 
County Institutes were organized ; a 
corps of competent instructors was pro- 
vided bv the state (le])artment and the 
teachers of the county were in attend- 
ance. The number in 1863 was five 
hundred eightv-thrce ; in 1868 was five 
hundred two; in 1873 was three hun- 
dred six : in 1878 was one hundred sixty- 
two ; and in 1883 was two hundred six- 
tv-seven. During these years — until 
1873 — the institutes were in session for 
ten davs. Attendance was voluntary 
and they were the largest institutes held 
in the state. Following this County In- 
stitutes were held for five davs until 
1885. Since that date District Institutes 
have been held until 1901, when a joint 
institute of the three districts, and the 
Cities of Dunkirk and Jamestown, was 
held for a term of five days. The num- 
ber of teachers and members of training- 
classes in attendance was four hundred 
eighty-eight. 

The Chautau(|ua County Teachers' 
Association was organized at Stockton, 
Chautauqua County, during the holiday 
week of 1861 and 1862. Teachers from 
Westfield and Frcdonia walked to 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



23 



Stockton to attend the meeting ; among- 
these were Charles Hathaway, H. B. 
Rolfe of Westfiekl and R. E. Post of 
Fredonia. Sinclairville, Mayville and 
Jamestown teachers being over the 
ridge had the l^enefit of the snowfall and 
sleighing. The association was organ- 
ized and has held annual and semi-an- 
nual meetings to the present time. 

Fredonia Academy, the first organ- 
ized in Chautauqua Count v, was incor- 
porated November 25, 1824. It was 
opened to pupils October 4, 1826, and 
continuously maintained until 1867, 



Smith. Preceptor ; George Porter, As- 
sistant. The attendance during the first 
year was one hundred thirtv-four. of 
which seventy-nine were male and fifty- 
five female. These were from thirteen 
towns in the count}', seven counties in 
the state, and four states. During the 
forty-two years of its educational life, 
more than ten thousand nupils, repre- 
senting nearly every state and terri- 
tory, the provinces of England and lands 
beyond the sea, were in attendance. 
The list of principals during the time 
is : Hon. Austin Smith, Joseph E. East- 




JA.MESTO\VN ACADEMY— 1836. 



when it was succeeded by the Academic 
Department of the Fredonia State Nor- 
mal and Training School. February 2^, 
1830, it was placed on the roll of the 
Regents. The original Trustees were 
Gen. Leverett Barker, President ; Sam- 
uel Marsh, Isaac Harmon, Carlton 
Todd, Henry Bosworth, Walter Smith, 
Elijah Risley, Jr., Charles Burrett, Gil- 
bert Douglass, Elisha Shepard, Orrin 
McClure, Daniel Gurnsey, Philo Orton, 
Thomas G. Abell, Squire White. John 
Crane, Secretary, and Tames Mullett. Jr. 
The first instructors were Austin 



man. Rev. Mr. Bradley, Henry Chancy, 
Charles H. Palmer, F. A. Redington^ 
Charles A. Seely. David H. Cochran, 
Daniel J. Pratt and Homer T. Fuller. 

Mayville Academy was incorporated 
April 24, 1834, and placed on the Re- 
gents' roll February 5. 1839. The 
first Trustees were William Peacock, 
Benjamin Evans. William Green. Mar- 
tin Prendergast, Samuel Willins:. Wil- 
liam T. Howell, Ebenezer P. Upham, 
Jal)ez B. Burrows, Hezekiah Tincom. 
Anselem Potter and William Smith. The 
names of the Principals are William L, 



24 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



Stuart. D. C. Thum, W. H. Marsh, Jesse 
Elliott, P. P. Kidder, William Larned, 
George W. Lawton, Alanson Wedge 
and F. A. Hall. On May 15, 1868, the 
Trustees of the Academy conveyed the 
property to the Mayville Union School 
which was organized in 1867 and May- 
ville Academv became the Academic 
Department of the Mayville Union Pligh 
School. 

Jamestown Academy was incorporat- 
ed April t6, 1836, and placed on the 
Regents' rtill h^ebruarv 5. i83(). The 
first Trustees were Hon. Elial T. 
Foote, Samuel A. Brown, Abner 
Lewis, Samuel Barrett, Abner Hazel- 
tine, W. W. Chandler, Tuflson South- 
land, Rufus Pier, Nathaniel A. Lowrv, 
Adolohus Fletcher and Horace Allen. 
The princinals were Lysander Farrar, 
George W. Parker, Charles G. Hazel - 
tine, Edward A. Dickinson, Rufus Kin-^' 
In t866 the Trustees voted to unite the 
Academy with the Union School which 
was established under the name of 
l7nion Free School District Number 
One in 1863. The people of Jamestown 
accepted the trust and the Academy was 
made a portion of the Jamestown Union 
School and Collegiate Institute. 

Westfield Academy was incorporated 
May 5, 1877, and placed on the Re.'Tcnts' 
roll February s, 1839. The first 
Trustees were Tonathan Cass, Joel 
Bradley, William H. Seward, Abram 
Dixon, Joshua R. Babcock, William W. 
Cowden, Tames McClurg, Gideon Good- 
rich, A. W. Baldwin, Brown Blair, Aus- 
tin Smith, Erastus D. Dean, Samuel 
Budlong, John X. Reynolds and Hugh 
W. Lowery. The names of its Princi- 
pals during its period of history are 
John M. Keep, Theodore Gay, Lorenzo 
Parsons, Alexander Montgomerv, J. E. 
Pillsbury, Edward M. Johnson, John C. 
Donaldson, Theodore Beard, S. Gerard 
Nye, Charles H. Brown, John C. Long 
Charles E. Lane and Abram Brown. 



In 1868 the Academy passed into the 
possession of the Board of Education 
of the Union School as the Academic 
Department of the Westfield High 
School. 

Ellington Acadeni}- was organized 
March 30, 185 1. The Trustees were 
Jeremiah Baldwin, John F. Farnham, 
Hosea Felt, Charles B. Green, Benja- 
min Barnard, Myron Walden, John M. 
Farnham, Seth W. Chandler, Mason 
D. Hatch, Cary Briggs, Jeremiah Ells- 
worth and Andrew P. White. It was 
placed on the Regents" roll February 11, 
1853. Names of Principals are W. C. J. 
Hall, A. Marsh, John C. Long, Hiram 
Ward, A. C. Moon, Miss M. Smith, 
Ruggles E. Post and W. E. Stevenson. 

March 23, 1871, the Board of Trus- 
tees under section seventeen of Chap- 
ter four hundred thirty-three of the 
Laws of 1853, passed a resolution trans- 
ferring the Academy property to Union 
School District Number Two, of the 
Town of Ellington, and it l)ecame the 
Academic Department of the PlUington 
High School. 

Dunkirk Acadeni}- was incorporated 
May I, 1837, with the following Trus- 
tees: Ezra Williams, Ernest Mullett, 
James A'anBuren George H. French. 
David McDonald, Horace Pemberton, 
Levi Parsons, Timothy Stillman, Walter 
Smith, William Mellen, Walter Chester 
and C. H. S. Williams. The names of 
the ]M-incipals arc Abner Taylor, Ebene- 
zer R. Thompson, Timothy Stillman, 
lioutelle, Cla])]), Nichols, James Bout- 
well. 

In the year 1859 the Academy proper- 
ty was conveyed to the Union School 
District and became the Academic De- 
partment of the same. 

Under the law of 1841, the Board of 
Supervisors elected Alonzo Parsons 
Deputy Superintendent of Schools. Mr. 
Parsons was born in the Town of Otis- 
co, Onondaga Countv, New York, in 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



25 



1806. He prepared for college at the 
Homer Academy and was graduated 
from Hamilton College in 1833. He en- 
gaged in teaching at Springville, Erie 
County, New York, afterward at West- 
field, where he resided while Superin- 
tendent of Schools. He was a man of 
ability, a thorough teacher, and did 
good work in the educational field. He 
died in Westfield in 1868. 

The law of 1843 abolished the offices 
of Town Commissioner and Inspector 
and created the offices of Town and 
County Superintendent, the former to 
be elected by the voters of the several 
towns ; the latter by the Board of Sup- 
ervisors. 

During the years 1842 and 1843, there 
appeared a bright particular star in the 
educational firmament which attracted 
the attention of all. It was "the star in 
the east," the token of better things ! 
The herald bearing glad tidings to the 
common people ; the educational Moses 
of Chautauqua County, who in the face 
of opposition — from those who saw as 
through a glass, darkly — fought a good 
fight, the results of which we are en- 
joying today. Worthy Putnam was 
elected County Superintendent in 1843. 
To him, more than to any other person, 
living or dead. Chautauqua County owes 
a debt of love and gratitude for honest 
efTort, intelligent and |)rogressive ac- 
tion, which resulted in developing" a 
healthy sentiment throughout the coun- 
ty, in favor of popular and universal ed- 
ucation. The educati(Mial life and work 
of this man is so much a part of our 
school history that it calls for extended 
notice. 

Worthy Putnam, son of Andrew and 
Azuba (Stanhope) Putnam, was the 
youngest of a family of ten children. 
He was born in Brookfield, Madison 
County, New York, October 11, 181 1. 
He was of the Putnam and Stanhope 
stock of Old and New England. In 



181 7 he removed with his father to 
Stockton, New York. In 1847 ^^e mar- 
ried Nancy Sinclair, who died in 1855. 
He married Mary E. Dalrymple in 1856, 
who died September 17, 1901. He died 
April 10, 1887, at Berrian Springs, 
Berrian County, Michigan, and is bur- 
ied there. Like Abraham Lincoln, he 
came from the lower walks of life. He 
was in many ways a self-made man. 
His youth was passed among the logs 
and stumps of his father's farm He 
was a graduate of the red school-house, 
and later of the Cassadaga Swamp. 




WORTHY PUTNAM. 

First County Superintendent of Schools. 

Later in life he placed himself under 
the special instruction of noted masters 
of oratory. 

In my earl\- years, my father tried to 
keep me out of mischief, by having me 
with an axe on my shoulder, follow him 
on his trips down the Cassadaga Creek 
to the "Forks," thence u]) the Bear 
Creek, along the line of his trapping 
trail. On lot seventeen of the IV Town- 
ship and XII Range, near the "Forks" 
and at least half a mile from any clear- 
ing, there was a bunch of hemlock trees 
standing close together. Up among the 



26 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



limbs of three of these trees there was 
a platform made of slabs, resting on 
poles which reached from limb to limb. 
This was the "High School and Uni- 
versity" from which Worthy Putnam 
graduated — and with honors. Here, in 
the stillness of the woods, he forged out 
of his brain a complete system of elocu- 
tion and oratory, and demonstrated 
from this platform, the beauty, strength 
and use of it. He was one of the most 
finished and perfect platfrom speakers 
America has ever produced. The result 
of his labor in the woods he placed in 
manuscript and gave to the world in 
1854, under the title of '"Putnam's Elo- 
cution and Oratory." It is a book of 
four hundred pages and has furnished 
the ideas, theories and systems which 
have since been placed before the pub- 
lic. It has received the commendation 
of leading educators everywhere, and 
today there is no work more complete 
and practical than this. After his school 
work had closed he took a full course 
in medicine. Later, he began the study 
of law. and in 1859 was admitted to prac- 
tice in all the courts of this state. In 
i860 he removed to \'alparaiso, Indiana, 
where he followed the profession of law 
until called to the chair of elocution and 
oratory in a leading college in the west. 
The remaining years of his life were 
spent among the teachers, clergymen 
and professors in the High Schools and 
Colleges of Ohio, Iowa and Michigan 
until 1868, when he was appointed Cir- 
cuit Judge of the Second Judicial Dis- 
trict of Michigan. 

In October, 1843, he was elected 
County Superintendent of Schools, and 
his salary was fixed at five hundred dol- 
lars a year. He was continued in this 
oflftce until 1847 when the office was abol- 
ished. Upon taking the office, he pub- 
Hshed and distributed an address to all of 
the people of the county. The following 
are points in his own words: "First. 



In the execution of my duties, I shall 
advise with the parent and show how he 
may save money and the service of his 
child by having a good school in his dis- 
trict. Second. The construction of 
school-houses will claim my particular 
exertions witK a view to public credit 
for neatness and taste, convenience and 
durability, and the preservation of the 
health of the school. Third. To con- 
vince teachers that it is their duty and 
interest to make their profession hon- 
orable ; that they should thoroughly un- 
derstand the sciences required to be 
taught : that they should be masters of 
the science — how to teach ; that their 
remuneration for their services and rep- 
utations should depend upon their mer- 
its. Fourth. I will endeavor to be to 
all the scholars, an inspector, instructor 
and friend : to animate them with a no- 
ble emulation, not to rise above one an- 
other, but above ignorance and dishon- 
orable feelings. The young and gener- 
ous nature of scholars needs but to be 
encouraged and stimulated, and it is 'on 
fire for action'." His conclusion is: 
"Fellow citizens ! who of us does not feel 
an ardent desire for the honor and pros- 
perity of Chautauqua County ? Our soil 
is rich by nature, rich by cultivation and 
rich in production. Let us then make 
our country rich in the cultivation of 
mind. Let us foster our common 
schools with peculiar care. They are 
the dawnings of a future day : the con- 
ditions of a future age. Let us make 
that dawning brilliant and promising. 
Let us raise the conditions of our com- 
mon schools, so that their influence will 
pass our county lines and extend to state 
and nation. \\'ho does not desire to 
make our county an educational bea- 
con light to the world? Let us adopt 
for it 'more elevated' the noble motto 
of Xew York. Let us educate our 
youth in sucli a manner, that when they 
are abroad, thev mav sa\- with an honest 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



27 



pride, thev were teachers, or were 
taught, in Chautauqua County."' 

During the winter term of 1843-4, 
there were three hundred three schools 
in this county. Mr. Putnam visited 
two hundred of these in a period 
of sixteen weeks ; one hundred six- 
tv-six had male teachers ; the aver- 
age price of wages a month — for 
twenty-four days — was twelve dollars 
and sixty-three cents. The highest price 
paid was twenty-five dollars, the lowest 
was five dollars a month. Thirty-four 
schools had female teachers ; the aver- 
age salary paid them was six dollars a 
month : the highest was ten dollars, the 
lowest four dollars a month. The age 
of the oldest male teacher was forty- 
five years :of the youngest fifteen years ; 
the old female teacher was twenty- 
nine ; the youngest sixteen years ; the 
best school-house in the county was in 
District Xumber Sixteen, Town of Han- 
over. The whole number of schools 
visited during the year was three hun- 
dred sixty-six : number of different 
schools visited two hundred eighty- 
four ; number visited twice thirty-two : 
number not visited during the year thir- 
ty-one ; number not in session at the 
time of visitation, twenty-one; number 
in session not reached during year, ten : 
number of schools visited with the 
Town Superintendent, two hundred six : 
number of common schools in the coun- 
ty three hundred fifteen : number of 
frame school-houses, two hundred fifty- 
six : log, forty: brick, fourteen; stone, 
five ; number with one school-room, 
three hundred six ; number with two 
or more rooms, nine : number of child- 
ren of school age in the covmty, eigh- 
teen thousand two hundred sixty-seven. 
Teachers' classes were formed at a cen- 
tral point in each town for drill each 
year, conducted by the county and town 
Superintendents. Town celebrations 
were held in each town, at which the 



several schools entered the lists in 
friendly competition to excel. These 
were attended by the County Superin- 
tendent. This is an outline of the work 
performed by him. 

It was during these years that there 
appeared in bold characters, written by 
Mr. Putnam on the walls over the door 
and windows inside the school-room 
those mottoes which all the old boys 
and girls remember with pleasure. They 
were : "Thou God seest me," "A time 
and place for everything in school," 
"Love to God and man," "Take fast 
hold of instruction." "Get wisdom — get 
understanding — forget it not," "Mrtue 
and intelligence are the safe-guards of 
the nation," "Order is Heaven's first 
law," "A kind word costs nothing," 
"When another speaks, give attention," 
"Knowledge is power," "Become learn- 
ed and virtuous and you will be great ; 
Love God and serve Him and you will 
be happy." I am old-fashioned enovigh 
to wish that some of these mottoes 
might find a place on the walls of our 
school-rooms in 1902 — but — I am not 
here to speak treason. 

]Mr. Putnam was a strong force in 
the educational gatherings of the state. 
Horace ^lann, known as one of the 
world's greatest educators, in a letter 
written by him July 2j. 1846. says : 

"You bespeak my sympathy and 
counsel in behalf of your children, for 
yours I must call them : that sympathy 
and counsel are spontaneously readv 
for you. The highly comendatory ac- 
count which you gave of them at the 
late convention of County Superintend- 
ents at Albany — where I had the pleas- 
ure of meeting you — and the beautiful 
specimen writing books prepared by 
them, which you exhibited, could not 
fail to make the schools of your countv 
conspicuous objects of attention, and to 
command my praise, as I believe they 
did that of everv other beholder. I 



28 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



have since mentioned those admirably 
executed books to school children in 
Massachusetts to incite them to greater 
diligence and effort." 

The written address of Horace Mann 
addressed to the children of Chautau- 
qua County, is one of the gems of liter- 
ary thought, covering the philosophy 
of educational development. The op- 
ening sentence is: "My dear children 
and friends, scholars in the schools of 
Chautauqua County." This address of 
nearly five twenty-inch columns of solid 
matter, was printed and placed in each 
school-room and district library in the 
county. At its head, in great primer 
type, were these words: "One copy of 
this address to be substantially put up 
in every school-room in the county. 
Parents will read it to their children ; 
teachers to their pupils." 

Here we find America's greatest 
school-master j (fining hands with Chau- 
tauqua in a labor of love. This was in- 
deed "praise from Sir Rupert." Horace 
Mann was an admirer and loyal friend 
of Worthy Putnam, who for five years 
gave his time, brain and energy to the 
schools of our county. Our language 
shows its poverty of words in an at- 
temi)t fairly to express the magnitude 
of Chautau(|ua County's debt of grati- 
tude to Worthy Putnam for deeds well 
performed in the cause of popular edu- 
cation. 

The "red school-house" teachers in 
the early days received from six to 
twenty dollars a month, of twenty-four 
and later twenty-two days, and boarded 
around the district. Later the pay was 
increased, and the teacher secured a 
home in one i)lacc, doing away with 
the unhealthful custom of sleeping in 
all the "spare beds"" 'in the district, and 
the other well-meant privilege, of sleep- 
ing with the children, as a preventive of 
home-sickness, on the ])art of the teach- 
er. The saying "Teacher, our folks are 



going to kill hogs next week, and they 
want you to come there and board," 
has become obsolete. 

Amasa Cassius Moses was the first 
School Commissioner in the b^irst Dis- 
trict of Chautauqua County. He was 
appointed to the ol^ce under the pro- 
visions of an act of Legislature passed 
April 12, 1856. His term of office 
expired December 31, 1857. He was 
born at Ticonderoga, New York, Au- 
gust 22, 1826. The name of his father 
was Hiram, of his mother Betsey Camp- 
bell Moses. He received his early edu- 
cation in the common schools until 
1844 when he attended the Westfield 
Academy, his parents having removed 
to the now Town of French Creek in 
1842. He began teaching at an earlv 
age. After the close of his term of 
ofifice he was engaged in teaching in 
the High Scho'ol in Erie, Pennsylvania. 
Later he was appointed Assessor of the 
United States internal revenue in this 
countv. In 1871 he removed to Great 
Bend, Barton County, Kansas, where 
he died February 9, 1887. I quote the 
words of another who says : "One of 
the most conspicuous features of Mr. 
Moses was faithfulness. He was al- 
ways generous, painstaking and self- 
sacrificino-." 

Orsamus Alexander White was the 
first School Commissioner in the Sec- 
ond District of Chautauqua County. He 
was appointed to the office under the 
provisions of an act of the Legislature 
passed April 12, 1856. His term of 
office ex])ired December 31. 1857. He 
was born at Brookfield, Madison Coun- 
ty, New York, October 4, 1819. The 
name of his father was Abel, of his 
mother, Polly Warren White. At an 
early age his parents renn)ved to tHe 
now Town of Gerry in Chautauqua 
County. Educated in the schools of the 
county he l)egan the work of teaching 
when seventeen years old. He was an 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



29 



Inspector and Town Superintendent of 
Schools in Gerry. After the close of his 
term of office he removed to the city of 
Norwalk, Ohio, and accepted the posi- 
tion of Principal of the High School. 
In 1867 he was elected Mayor of the 
city; re-elected in 1869 and again in 
1876. For many years he was associat- 
ed with others in the publication of the 
Norwalk Daily Reflector. He died De- 
cember 21, T894. The press in speak- 
ing of him said "A typical American 
citizen has departed, mourned by the 
whole city but full of years and honor. 
Peace be to his ashes." 

George Washington Putnam was the 
second School Commissioner in the first 
district of Chautauqua County. He 
was elected for the term beginning Jan- 
uary I, 1858, and ending December 31, 
i860. ■Mr. Putnam was born in Man- 
chester, X'ermont. July 7, 1818. He 
was the youngest child and son of Jacol) 
Putnam and Mary Burton Putnam, who 
had a family of fourteen children. In 
1 83 1 his father moved to Chautaucjua 
County and settled near Volusia in the 
Town of Westfield. He was educated 
at a New England fireside, in the log 
school-house and at Mayville and West- 
field Academies. He taught several 
terms of school in this county. In the 
years 1845-6 he was engaged in lectur- 
ing in the states of Ohio and Michigan 
on electricity and Morse's telegraph. 
In 1847 li^ married Alpa Ann \'an 
\'leit. After the close of his term of 
office as Commissioner in 1861 he was 
appointed mail agent on the then Buf- 
falo and Erie Railroad. In the years 
of development of the railway mail ser- 
vice he has kept pace with the onward 
movement as shown by frequent promo- 
tions and is still actively engaged, hav- 
ing been in continuous service over for- 
ty-one years. He is the oldest, in years 
of service, postal clerk in the Ignited 
States. Mr. Putnam is in the tenth 



generation a direct descendent from the 
Salem Putnams of 1630. Evidently his 
is a case where "blood tells." May he 
live to "work his case" and "tie out his 
mail" for many years. 

Lucius Hurlbut was the second 
School Commissioner in the Second 
District of Chautauqua County. He 
was elected for the term beginning Jan- 
uary I, 1858, and ending December 31, 
i860. He was born in Paulet, Vermont, 
in 1816. The name of his father was 
Ashbel Hurlbut ; of his mother, Lucy 
Blin Hurlbut. He was a graduate of 
Norwich LTniversity. He was a teacher 
of mathematics in Fredonia Academy 
until his election to the office of School 
Commissioner. He was a Justice of 
the Peace in Pomfret and Clerk of the 
Board of Supervisors of the county for 
several years. He was identified and 
closely associated with the organizing 
and development of Forest Hill Ceme- 
tery, giving to it much time and intelli- 
gent service. Later he removed to 
.Waterloo, Iowa, where he was engaged 
in banking. Following this he removed 
to Chicago, Illinois, where he was one of 
the city Assessors. He died there in 
November, 1896. He was buried in 
Forest Hill Cemetery at Fredonia, New 
York. 

Richard Dow Vrooman was the third 
School Commissioner in the First Dis- 
trict of Chautauqua County. He was 
elected for the term beginning January 
I, 1861, and ending December 31, 1863. 
He was the son of Jacob and Hannah 
Dow \>ooman. He was born in the 
Town of Castile, Wyoming Countv, N. 
Y., November 2, 1827. When five vears 
old his parents moved to Clymer. He 
was educated in the log school-house 
and at the family fireside. When eigh- 
teen years old he was licensed to teach. 
He earned money enough to enable 
him to attend the Westfield Academy 
where he took a sort of post graduate 



30 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



course in surveying, civil engineering 
and the advanced sciences. He was an 
early Town Superintendent of Schools 
in Clymer. In the fall of 1863 he resign- 
ed the ofifice of School Commissioner 
and enlisted as a volunteer in Co. G., 
Fifteenth Regiment of New York Engi- 
neers and served until the close of the 
war. He married in 1865. After the 
close of the Civil War he returned to 
the teachers" ranks and was a success- 
ful teacher for many years. He died 
May II, 1895, and was l^uried on Cly- 
mer Hill, adjoining the school-house lot 




ANDREW P. WrHITE. 

where he taught his first school. He 
was a worthy product of the early com- 
mon school system of education in 
Chautauqua County. 

Andrew Proudfit White was the third 
School Commissioner in the Second 
District of Chautauc|ua County. He 
was elected for the term beginning 
January i, 1861, and ending December 
31, 1863. He was the son of John N. 
and Margaret White. He was liorn in 
Washington County, New York, Jul\' 
30, 1806. His education was secured in 
the schools of his native countv. In 



early manhood he removed to Genesee 
County and in 1834 to Ellington where 
he resided at the time of his death in. 
1878. He engaged in teaching for a num- 
ber of years ; was elected Town Superin- 
tendent of Schools and Inspector in 
Ellington. In 1855-56 he was employed 
in the educational department of the 
Secretary of State in Albany. In 1864 
he accepted a position in the Auditor's 
Department of, the Linited States Treas- 
ury at Washington where he remained 
for a series of years. He was buried 
at Ellington. In the various depart- 
ments of ])ublic life to which he was 
called he was an honored and faithful 
servant of the people. 

Charles Hathaway was the Eourth 
School Commissioner in the First Dis- 
trict of Chautauqua County. He was 
elected for the term beginning January 
I, 1864, and ending^ December 31, 1866. 
He was born in Canandaigua, New 
York, April 28, 1823. The name of his 
father was Rufus, the name of his moth- 
er Catherine Reed Hathaway. He was 
educated in the schools of Ontario 
County, and at the age of twenty-one 
removed to Ashtabula County, Ohio, 
where he was principal of the Conneaut 
Academy. Later he removed to Erie 
County, Pennsylvania, where he was 
Principal of the Springfield Academy. 
Following this he settled in Westfield 
where he was engaged in teaching when 
he was elected School Commissioner. 
He was an earnest worker in the organ- 
ization of the present Union School in 
Westfield. He removed to Cortland, 
from there to Horseheads, Chemung 
County, where he was elected School 
Commissioner in 1878, which office he 
held at the time of his death which oc- 
curred December 26 1880. He was 
buried in Maple Grove Cemetery at 
Horseheads, New York. The friends of 
education in Chautauqua County are 
debtors to him {o the extent of ijrateful 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



31 



remembrance for earnest work intelli- 
gently clone. 

James McNaughton was the fourth 
School Commissioner in the Second 
District of Chautau(|ua Coimtv. He 
was elected for the term beginning 
January i, 1864, and ending December 
31, 1866. He was re-elected in Novem- 
ber, 1866, for the term ending Decem- 
ber 31, i86cj. He was born in Sinclair- 
ville, Chautauqua County, February 8, 
1837. The name of his father was John 
of his mother, Maria Parsons ]\Ic- 
Naughton. He was educated in the vil- 




jAMEs McNaughton. 

lage school and Ellington Academy, 
where he prepared for college. He be- 
gan teaching at an early age in the dis- 
trict schools of Charlotte. He entered 
Allegheny College in 1854. He was 
graduated with honors and in 1856 en- 
gaged in teaching in Kentucky for three 
years. In i860 he attended Michigan 
University. Later he returned to Ken- 
tucky and took charge of Bath Semi- 
nary at Owingsville until after the be- 
ginning of the Civil War. He received 
the degrees of Bachelor of Arts and 
Master of Arts from Allegheny College, 
also from Illinois Wesleyan University. 
He studied law in the office of the Hon. 
George Barker of Fredonia. Fie re- 



signed the of^ce of School Commis- 
sioner October 16, 1869, and was elect- 
ed Superintendent of the schools of 
Corry, Pennsylvania. Later he re- 
moved to Minnesota where he was Su- 
perintendent of the Schools of North- 
field, Faribault and Winona ; also at 
Council Blufifs and Cedar Falls, Iowa. 
In 1892 he organized the State Normal 
School at Mayville, Dakota, (North). 
Later he was at the head of the faculty 
of the Normal School of Arizona. From 
this position he was called to the Presi- 
dency of the State Normal School at 
San Jose, California, where he did suc- 
cessful work until July, 1900, and is now 
enjoying the rest his failing health de- 
manded. He is living at Pasadena, 
California. 

Phin M. Miller was the fifth School 
Commissioner in the First District of 
Chautauqua County. He was appoint- 
ed ])y the Hon. Orsel Cook in Fcliruary, 
1865, to fill a vacancy caused bv the 
resignation of Charles Hathaway. In 
1865 he was elected and re-elected for 
the term beginning January t, 1867, 
and ending December 31, 1869. He 
was born in Stockton. New York, De- 
cember II, 1839. The name of his 
father was Isaac J., of his mother. Polly 
Shepard Miller. He attended the dis- 
trict school, Mayville and Fredonia 
Academies. He began teaching in 1856, 
closed in Ripley, March 14. 1865, to take 
the of^ce of Commissioner. He re- 
signed the ofifice October 16, 1869, and 
entered the service of Harper & Broth- 
ers in the interest of their school and 
college text books. He continued 
in this work till 1882, when he became 
associated with the Buffalo Express ; 
was manager of the Matthews-Northrup 
Railway Guide till 1888; was editor and 
manager of the Lockport Daily Express 
from 1888 to 1891 when he entered the 
service of the legal department of the 
Lake Shore & Michigan Southern Rail- 



32 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



way Company as real estate, tax and 
claim agent, where he is now engag-ed. 
In 1901 he was rec|uested by the Cen- 
tennial Committee of the Chautauqua 
County Historical Society to prepare a 
sketch of the schools and education in 
Chautauqua County from 1802 to 1902. 
He was a resident of "The Corners'" in 
Stockton, New York, till 1887, when 
he removed to I'uffalo, New York. 
The son of a farmer, brought up on the 
farm, his father thought him a fairly 
good worker, v\dio was at his best while 
driving oxen. 

Wellington fared Woodward was the 
fifth School Commissioner in the Sec- 
ond District of Chautauqua County. 
He was appointed by the Hon. Orsel 
Cook, County Judge, to fill a vacancy 
caused by the resignation of James Mc- 
Naughton October 18, 1869. At the 
election held in November, 1869, he was 
elected for the term beginning January 
I, 1870, and ending December 31, 1872. 
He was born in the Town of Ellicott, 
New York, January 20, 1821. The 
name of his father was Reuben J., of his 
mother, Sally Dunbar Woodward. He 
was educated in the district schools 
and Jamestown Academy. For many 
years he was a successful teacher in the 
district schools of Southern Chautau- 
(lua, both before and after the exj^ira- 
tion of his term as Commissioner. In 
1882 he entered the service of the gov- 
ernment in the Customs House at New 
York. Later he returned to his old 
home in Kiantone where his services 
were sought as the trusted agent of 
others in the settlement of estates, in 
which capacity he was faithful to all. 
He was closely identified with the Ala- 
sonic fraternity, in which he had a pe- 
culiar interest. He was a member of 
the Chautaucfua County Agricultural 
Society and for several years its presid- 
ing of^cer. He died at his home in 
Kiantone January 12. 1885. All who 



knew him will join with me in repeating : 
"A good man and an angel ; these be- 
tween, how thin the l)arrier.'' 

Alonzo Christopher Pickard. — The 
subject of this sketch was born in 
Ellery, Chautaucpia County, New York, 
February 17, 1838. His father, Maj- 
or Henrv I'ickard, settled on Pick- 
ard Hill, in said town of Ellery in 1816. 
His father, John I'ickard, was one of 
the first settlers in that ])art of Chautau- 
(jua County. In 1824 Major Henry 
Pickard married Maria Vandewarker, 
the daughter of one of the early pio- 
neers of said Town of Ellery. Alonzo 
C. Pickard, familiarly called "Lon," was 
educated in the common schools till he 
was eighteen years of age, at which 
time he attended a select school at Ey- 
ona. Crawford County, Pennsylvania, 
conducted by John WyckofT. He pre- 
])ared for college at the old Meadville 
Academv. after which he entered Alle- 
ghenv College. 1 before finishing his col- 
lege course the war broke out, a com- 
]>any of students was organized called 
the Allegheny College \T")lunteers, (also 
known as Company I, Tenth Pennsyl- 
vania Reserve) and Mr. Pickard en- 
linsted in said com])an\', being its first 
( )rderl\- Sergeant. After serving in that 
companv about six months he was dis- 
charged from the army for tuberculous 
consumption and sent home to die. In- 
stead of dving he recovered, and on the 
23rd da}- of August, 1862, again enlist- 
ed, this time in Com])any L, One Him- 
dred Twelfth New York \'olunteers, 
sul)sec|uently known as the vSeventh 
Compan\;, b^irst I'attalion New York 
Sharpshooters. Fie was made Orderly 
Sergeant of this comi)anv upon its or- 
ganization and served with the com- 
pany until May 8, 18^)4, when he was 
severelv wounded in the Pattle of the 
Wilderness, near Spottsylvania Court 
House. Previous to said l)attle he had 
l)(-x'n jiromoted to Second Lieutenant 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



33 



and First Lieutenant. lie was subse- 
(inently lirevetted Captain and Major 
for meritorious service on the field of 
l)attle. While still in the hosj^ital at 
Anapolis, Maryland, suffering from his 
wound he was detailed by Secretary of 
War Edwin M. Stanton, to i^erform 
"lio-ht duty," ordered to Washington 
and made a member of a General Court 
Martial in that citv. After serving in 
that capacity for several months he was 
transferred to Alexandria, Virginia, and 
made a Judge Advocate of a General 
Court Martial with headquarters in 
that city. lie held that position till 
nuistered out at the close of the war, 
in June, 1865. < )n the first day of Sep- 
tember, 1865, he commenced teaching 
school in P.usti, where he taught sev- 
eral years. On the i6th of October. 
1869, he was api^ointed School Connnis- 
sioner of the First District in Chautau- 
(|ua Countv to fill a vacancy caused b}' 
the resignation of Hon. Phin M. Mil- 
ler. In November of the same year 
he was elected School Commissioner 
for a full term. The next spring after 
the close of his term as School Commis- 
sioner, he was elected Supervisor of the 
Town of Busti and re-elected the two suc- 
ceeding terms. While residing in Busti 
he was engaged in farming, in the gro- 
cery business and in the milling busi- 
ness ; at the same time studying law 
more or less with the late Judge Cook, 
afterwards with John (i. Wicks, was 
in company in the law business with 
]ohn G. Wicks in Jamestown during 
the years '-/J and "78. From January 
I St, '70, to July. '86, he practiced law in 
Busti. On the latter date he moved his 
law ofifice to Jamestown and has been 
a ])racticing attorney there ever since, 
and at present is located in the Citv 
Hall. On the i6th day of June. 1864, 
he united in marriage with Rose Flagg, 
a daughter of Captain Madison Flagg 
(»f Stockton. Two boys and one girl 

* Note The above sketch of Mr Pickard was prepared 
Chautauqua County and is reprinted entire. 



are fruits of this union. The daughter 
is the wife of E. W. Stevens. The fath- 
er, both sons and the daughter's hus- 
band, are all practicing law in the City 
of Jamestown, in separate offices. 

Mr. Pickard is a member of Post 
James M. Brown, No. 285, Department 
of New York, G. A. R. He has rep- 
resented the post on several occasions 
in the Department Encampment and 
has also been a member of the National 
Encampment. For several years he 
was a member of the Committee on 
Patriotism for the Department of New 
York, and at that time associated with 
eleven of the most prominent educators 
of the state, among whom was the pres- 
ent Superintendent of PubHc Instruc- 
tion, Hon. Charles R. Skinner.* 

Lucius Mortimer Robertson was the 
sixth School Commissioner in the Sec- 
ond District of Chautauciua Countv. 
He was elected for the term beginning 
January i, 1873, and ending December 
31, 1875. In November of the latter 
year he was re-elected for the term end- 
ing December 31, 1878. He was born 
in Jamestown, New York, April 2, 1836. 
The name of his father was Schuyler, 
of his mother, Polly booster Clark Rob- 
ertson. When two years of age his i)ar- 
ents removed to the Town of CarrcMl 
where he grew to manhood. He attend- 
ed the common and select schools of the 
town. Chautauciua has raised but few 
more thoroughly educated men than 
was ]\Ir. Robertson. Always a student, 
he worked intelligently and with satis- 
factory results. While not a "graduate" 
he was a past master in the philosophy 
of educational develoiMiient. He mas- 
tered the science of sur /eying and civil 
engineering; began the study of law, 
which he was forced to abandon on ac- 
count of ill health. As a School Com- 
missioner he was deservedly popular 
with the ]K'Oiile. After the close of his 
term as Conuiiissioner he received an 

for the Biographical section of the Centennial History of 



34 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



appointment in the United States cus- 
toms service : here he received three 
substantial promotions based upon mer- 
it and proved himself one of the j^ov- 
ernment's most reliable and trusted 
servants. Death relieved him from ser- 
vice November 9. lyoi. He was l)uried 
in Maple Grove Cemetery at Frews- 
bur^, New York. 

Henrv Quincy Ames was the seventh 
School Commissioner in the First Dis- 
trict of Chautauqua County. He was 
elected for the term beginning January 
I, 1873, and ending December 31, 1875. 



,..^ -- "I^ 
/i 









HENKY Q. AMHS. 

He was born in the Town of Cameron, 
Steuben County, New York, May 28, 
1828. The name of his father was Dav- 
id, of his mother Sally Hardy Ames. 
Flis parents removed io Charlotte. 
Chautaucjua County, New York, when 
Henry was a lad. It was there he 
gained his education in the district 
schools of the neighborhood, the select 
school at Sinclairville and the Fredonia 
Academy. Vov many years he was a 
successful teacher in the village schools 
of Centrnl Chautaufpia. Later he re- 
moved to the Town of Mina where ho 
resided at the time of his election as 



Commissioner. After the close of his 
term of office he engaged in teaching. 
In 1879 he was emplo}-ed in the New 
^^ork Customs House where he re- 
mained for several years. Later in life 
he returned to Sherman where he lived 
until the death of his wife in 1894. Four 
months later he died at the home of his 
daughter in Brooklyn on September 10, 
1894. He was buried at Sherman, New 
York. 

J. Fbenezer Almy was the seventh 
School Commissioner in the Second 
District of Chautaucpia County. He 
was elected for the term beginning Jan- 
uary I, 1879, and ending December 31, 
1881. He was Ixjrn in the Town of 
Gerry, New York, August 20, 1844. 
The name of his father was Himii)hrev, 
of his mother. Ruth /Vustin Alm\'. He 
was educated in the district schools in 
FUington and at the Westfield Acad- 
emy. He prepared lor college in Gene- 
see Wesleyan Seminary. He received 
his college training in (^lenesee College 
and Syracuse Laiivers'ty. He engaged 
in teaching in Livins'ston Countv and 
was instructor in. ancient and modern 
histor\' in (ienesee Wesleyan Semimry. 
After the close of his term as Coiiimis- 
sioner he was graduated from the Phila- 
deli^hia Dental College. He is now 
practicing his profession in Jamestown, 
New York. 

Thomas Jefferson Pratt w-as the 
eighth School Commissioner in the First 
District of Chautaucjua County. He 
was elected for the term beginning Jan- 
uary 1, 1876, and ending December 31, 
1878. He was born in Cambridge, 
Washington County, New York, Feb- 
ruarv 9, 1843. The name of his father 
was Rufus, of his mother, Jane- Gallo- 
way Pratt. His father was a ])rominent 
minister of the Methodist Episcopal 
Church whose early field of labor was 
in the eastern jjortion of the state. Lat- 
er he removed to Chautauqua County. 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



35 



His son received his preliminary educa- 
tion in the schools of the various towns 
and villages where his father was locat- 
ed. His advanced education was se- 
cured at the Nassau Institute and May- 
ville Academy. He began teaching in 
Chautau<|ua Count v at an early age. 
Outside the district schools where he 
taught his ]:)rincipal work was done at 
Sinclairville, Alayville and Falconer. 
He was for eleven years the Principal 
of the Mayville Union School. Of slen- 
der body and frail ])hvsi(|ue he possessed 
a bright brain and a will like that of 
Martin Luther, which won success 
where others would have failed. Later 
in life he was for one year the jiastor 
of the Methodist Episcopal Church at 
Leon, Cattaraugus County. Failing 
health comjxdk'd him to retire from 
teaching. His valual)le services have al- 
ways been in demand. He is now in 
charge of the office work, as clerk of 
the Fredonia State Normal and Train- 
ing School. 

Charles Henry Wicks was the ninth 
School Commissioner in the h'irst Dis- 
trict of Chautauqua Countv. He was 
elected for the term beginning Januar\- 
I, 1879, and ending December 31, 1881. 
He was re-elected in 1881, 1884 and 
1887, his last term exi)iring December 
31, 1890, having held the office from 
January i, 1879. He was born in the 
Town of Ellery, October 15. 1849. He 
attended district school and was grad- 
uated from the Jamestown I'nion 
School and Collegiate Institute in 1869 
He was engaged in teaching from that 
time until his election as Commission- 
er. After the expiration of his term 
he became a resident of Lakewood. 
In 1893 the Union School at that place 
was organized. The first Board of Ed- 
ucation consisted of one meml)er. Un- 
der his supervision the new building 
was erected and the school organized. 
The President, Mcc President, Secre- 



tary, Executive Committee was made 
up of Charles H. Wicks. There was 
entire unanimity on the board and its 
work gave "general satisfaction." He 
is now engaged in the business of real 
estate at Jamestown, is Deputv Clerk 
of the New York State Assembly and 
present Chairman of the Republican 
County Committee of Chautauqua 
County. 

James Randall Flagg was the first 
School Commissioner in the Third Dis- 
trict of Chautau(|ua County. Under 
the provisions of the act estal)lishing 
the district he was appointed Commis- 




JAMGS R. FLAGG. 

sioner on December 13, t886. In 1887 
he was elected for the term beginning 
January i, 1888, and en<ling December 
31, 1890. He was re-elected in '90, '93, 
'96 and '99, and is now serving his fifth 
term of election. He was born in Glade 
Township, Warren County, Pennsylva- 
nia, November 22, 1849. The name of 
his father was Madison, of his mother 
Angeline Putnam Flagg. He was edu- 
cated at the "town line" — now Cen- 
tralia — district school in the Town of 
Stockton, New York, at the Busti grad- 
ed school and the Fredonia State Nor- 
mal and Training School. Prior to 



36 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



1886 he was for ten years the Principal higher institution of learning, and re-en- 

of the Frewsburg Union Scho(jl. I tered his profession three years later as 

(juote from his letter furnishing material Principal of the Sugar Grove School, 

for this sketch ; he savs : "Perhaps the Two years was spent as Principal in 

most important feature of my work as Dayton ; seven years devoted to work 

Commissioner has l:)een in classifying in Frewsburg as Prmci]:)al and anotlier 

and systematizing the work of the six years as Principal in the schools of 

schools. When I entered upon the work P>rocton. He was elected School Com- 

onlv three schools in the district had a missioner of the First Chautau(iua Dis- 

regular course of study. My first effort trict in 1903. 

in this direction was to establish a The training and experience sccur'^d 
course of study in each of the village by ^Ir. Marshall, have been invaluable 
schools and having succeeded in this I in making him one of the leading edu- 
undertook the same work in the dis- cators of Chautaucpia County, 
trict schools. It was a long and tedious Although Mr. Marshall has tanghi 
work but the ]^lan ])roved successful in various schools, as a resident of Sher- 
and today the same systematic work is man since 1869, he has regarded that 
being done in the district schools as is place as his home. He was married on 
being accomplished in the lower grades August 7, 1889. to Fmma P». Skinner, 
of the union school." Mr. Flagg re- who died during January of 1891. His 
sides in iM-ewsburg, New York. second marriage occurred on July ;•, 
*Pratt E. Marshall was born at Clvmer 1894, to Isadore A. Plandon. Mr. 
Center, New York, April 10, 1861. His Marshall is the father of five children ; 
father was Ira Marshall, and his mother Linda, born June 7, 1890; Jay Blander, 
Sarah Pratt. His ancestors are nuni- born September 21, 1896; Rav Fsmon;), 
bered among those who took an eariv born June 7, 1898, Gladys Aliene, born 
and prominent part in the affairs of March 8, 1900, and Marjorie Esther, 
Chautau(|ua Count\ . His grandfather, born September 17, 1903. 
Enoch Marshall, settled at Clymer Cen- In addition to his other duties, Mr. 
ter in 1830, while his maternal grand- Marshall finds time to take an active 
father, James Pratt, Iniilt his home at ])art in the Independent ( )rder of ( )dd 
Nettle Hill in 1829. Fellows, is also a ])rominent member of 
The parents of Mr. Marshall np]M-e- the Grange in which he takes much in- 
ciated the advantage of an education terest, being at the present time Master 
to a young man in achieving success in of that order, and is a member of the 
life. Mr. Marshall attended the district Congregational Church, 
school at Sherman Center until foiu-- *Winfield A. Holcomb was the ninth 
teen years old. He spent three years School Commissioner .in the Second 
at the Sherman Iligh School, and a District of Chautau(|ua County. He 
similar period at the Frerlonia Normal was elected for the term l)eginning Jan- 
School, and he has had the advantai;e nary i, 1891, and is now serving his 



of twelve years training through the 
Chautauqua College. 

Having made no inc< nsiderable prep- 
aration, Mr. Marshall commenced 
teaching at Waits' Corners in 1897, and 
continued in district schools for four 
vears ; subseciuentlv he attended the 



fifth consecutive term, covering a jier- 
iod of fifteen years. His term will ex- 
pire on December 31, 1905. He was 
born in Norwich, Chenango County, 
New York, January 23, 1862. The 
name of his father was Ro1:)ert A., of 
his mother, Abbie A. Holcomb. In 



* Note. The sketches of Pratt K. Marshall and Winfield A. Holcomb were prepared for the Biographical section 
of the Centennial History of Chautauqua County and are reprinted entire. 






H 
H 


U 

a 
P 
< 

H 
P 

a 
u 

o 

O 

M 

73 



38 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



1869 his parents removed to Ripley, 
New York. For twelve years he at- 
tended the district school. At the ai^e 
of fifteen he attended the Ripley Union 
School and secured a certificate from 
the Commissioner which had written 
across its face the sad words, "Too 
young to teach." The following year 
he had a "little older grown" and at the 
age of sixteen he began work as a 
teacher in District Number Six of Rip- 
ley. In 1882 he entered the Fredonia 
Normal School and was graduated from 
the Classical Department in 1886. He 
was at once elected Principal of the 
Ripley Union School by the unanimous 
vote of the Board and continued as its 
Principal till January i, 1891, when he 
resigned to fill the office of School^ 
Commissioner. 

Mr. Holcomb has been actively in- 
terested in educational work and at one 
time was the only School Commission- 
er in the State on the Board of Exam- 
iners for the Department of Public In- 
struction, in reviewing papers for State 
Certificates. He is at the present time 
President of the State Association of 
School Commissioners and Superintend 
ents, and also of the Chautauqua Coun- 
ty Teachers' Association. 

He married Miss Catherine C. Lom- 
bard, daughter of Lucius Lombard of 
Ripley, N. Y., August 6, 1890. They 
have five children : Ruth and Catherine, 
twin daughters, and three sons, Albert, 
Frederick and Edward. 

In August, 1894. Mr. Hcdcomb moved 
from Ripley to Fredonia, New York, 
where he now resides. He is one of 
the largest stockholders and President 
of the Gleason Grape Juice Company 
of that village, which is the second 
largest unfermented grape juice com- 
pany, in its output, in the United States. 
^Judson S. Wright. — It is a pleasure 
at this juncture to present a sketch 
and excellent likeness of Professor Jud- 

* Note. The sketch of Judsou S. Wright was taken from 
printed entire. 



son S. Wright of Falconer. The sub- 
ject of this sketch was born in Ville- 
nova, September 14, 1868. His grand- 
father, James Wright, is recorded in the 
annals of the township as one of the 
earliest settlers of Wright's Corners. 
His father was Daniel Wright, who is 
also remembered as among the ener- 
getic settlers in this township of Chau- 
tauqua County. 

A brief glance at the career of Profes- 
sor Wright shows that he is a man of 
energy and determination. He entered 
the common schools at Wright's Cor- 
ners, and later during the year 1884-5 
he attended the Gowanda Academy. 
Believing that a more extended edu- 
cation was necessary to a man, who 
desired success in modern life. Profes- 
sor Wright entered the Fredonia Nor- 
mal School and there he completed a 
classical course in tlie spring of 1892. 

In the fall of that year he took Uj) 
his residence in h'alconer and in rec- 
ognition of his al)ilit\- as an educator, 
the Trustees of the village made him 
the I'rincipal of the Falconer High 
School. ]\Ir. Wright was the execu- 
tive head of the schools of Falconer for 
practically a decade, and during the ])er- 
iod mentioned the institution of the vol- 
lage adjacent to Jamestown, received 
recognition as being among the best 
of the kind in the state. Professor 
Wright was an active factor in the 
social and intellectual life of the com- 
munity, and regret was expressed by 
the residents of the village when he de- 
cided in 1902, in response to the soli- 
citation of a large number of friends, 
to become a candidate for ollfice of 
School Commissioner. In the course of 
things Mr. Wright was opposed by 
other ambitious men, but his popular- 
ity was evidenced in his triumph in the 
caucusses of the Re])ublican Party. In 
November of the same year, the people 
of the Third Commissioner district of 

the Centennial History of Chautauqua County and is re- 



CHXUTAUOUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



39 



Chautaiu|ua County ratified the nomi- 
nation made during the previous June, 
by electino- Professor Wriq-ht b}' a o'rat- 
ifying majority. He entered Uj^on the 
duties upon the first day of Januar\\ 
1903, and the a1)iHty whieh he has dis- 
played in the conduct of his office makes 
it certain that his services will be ai^pre- 
ciated by the parents of the District. 
This School Commissioner District is 
one of the most imj^ortant in Western 
New York, and certainly it is an honor 
to any man to acceptably occupy the 
position mentioned. 

It is the fortune of many young- men 
to succeed in one line of work, l)ut few 
are active in more than one field of en- 
deavor with credit to themselves. Not 
only has Professor Wright gained a 
position as one of the leading educators 
of the county, but has taken a jiart in 
the l)usiness affairs of his community. 
In the spring of 1900, the b'alconer 
Milling Company was incori)orated, 
Mr. Wright being made the President 
of the corporation. In atldition, he is 
the executive head of the Falconer Pad 
Company, and he is a director of the 
First National Bank of Falconer. 

In connection with the ])ositions men- 
tioned, it is of importance to know that 
Mr. Wright is a leading member of 
Chadakoin Lodge, Independent Order 
of Odd Fellows^ and a worker in the 
Methodist Episcopal Church. 

He has served as the President of the 
Principals' Association of the Third 
Commissioner District of Chautaucpia 
County. In May, 1904, he was elected 
President of the Chautauqua County 
Teachers' Association and in these sev- 
eral positions Professor Wright has 
manifested those traits that early gave 
him prominence in his profession. 

The subject of this article was mar- 
ried to Miss EfTa Mauley at Forest- 
ville. New York, on June 22, 1893. 
They have two daughters, and at the 

* Note. The sketch of Eininons J. Swift was prepared for 
tauqua County and is reprinted entire. 



time of this writing, the family continues 
to reside at Falconer. 

*Emmons Joseph Swift. — The cause of 
common school education in Chautau- 
cjua county was faithfully served by 
Emmons Joseph Swift in the capacity 
of School Commissioner for three con- 
secutive terms, covering the period from 
January i, 1882, to December 31, 1890. 
Mr. Swift was born February 20, 1852, 
on the farm in the southern part of 
Hanover, settled by his grandfather, 
Jacob Swift, who moved from the Town 
of Lisle, Broome County, this state, 
reaching the Hanover wilderness, over- 
looking Lake Erie, September 20, 1823, 
the day that his oldest son, Joel C, the 
father of Emmons, was one year old. 
The maternal parent was Frances A., 
daughter of Rev. Jonas Glazier, a Bap- 
tist preacher who moved from Massa- 
chusetts to Xapoli, Cattaraugus Coun- 
ty, in an early day. Emmons was the 
oldest of a family of four sons. He 
was educated in the common schools 
and the Forestville Academy, began 
teaching at the age of seventeen and 
continued his work for twenty-five 
terms, being Principal of the schools at 
Cherry Creek, this county, \'ersailles, 
Perrysburg, Dayton and Cattaraugus 
in Cattaraugus County. He closed his 
last term of school in that county the 
day ])efore Christmas and in one week 
thereafter, on New Year's Day follow- 
ing, assumed the duties of School Com- 
missioner in the Second Commissioner 
District of our county. He took front 
rank from the first in matter of school 
siipervision, being prominent in the for- 
mation of the Western New York As- 
sociation of School Commissioners and 
City Superintendents, the first body in 
our state to use uniform teachers' ex- 
aminations. Commissioner Swift was 
a strong advocate of this feature of uni- 
fication until it finally became engrafted 
into our state educational system. He 

the Hanover section of the Centennial History of Chau- 



40 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



took a leadinc: interest in state as well 
as local educational meetings and was 
elected President of the Xew York- 
State Association of School Commis- 
sioners and Cit}' vSuperintendents. As 
School Commissioner he was re-nomi 
nated each time by acclamation and his 
efificiencv and ])()])ularit\' demonstrated 
bv lari;el\' increased majorities at the 
polls ; but he declined a renomination 
for a fourth term. In November, 1891, 
under the administration of President 
Harrison Mr. Swift was appointed one 
of the twelve United States Internal 
Revenue Ag-ents and assigned to duty 
in New York Cit\'. He was soon 
transferred to (ireensboro, North Caro- 
lina, and given charge of the division 
which includes the three states, A ir- 
ginia, North Carolina and South Caro- 
lina. This of all the divisions is consid- 
ered the UKJSt difficult to handle. This 
work consists of the detection of and 
the prosecution for fraud on the Inter- 
nal Revenue, and includes the sui)i)res- 
sion of illicit distillation. Manv are the 
hair-raising encounters with southern 
mountain moonshiners that Colonel 
Swift could recount. He remained 
chief of that division until a change in 
the politics of the national administra- 
tion led to his resignation. He returned 
to the Swift homestead which has never 
passed from the famih' ; and when the 
present State Licpior Tax Law was en- 
acted he entered the competitive Civil 
Service examination and passed secon<l 
highest in the iMghth Judicial District 
and was the first S])ecial Agent appoint- 
ed from the eligible list in the district 
after the war veterans were out of the 
war. He served the state in that capac- 
ity till October, i8(j(}, when wholly un- 
known to hiin, and while he was absent 
from the county being at work in New 
York Citv he was selected bv his partv 
to fill a vacancy on the count\' ticket 
of the Re])ublican Partv for Countv 

* Note. The .sketch of Grant E- Neil was prepared for the 
qua County and is reprinted entire. 



Treasurer to be elected at the coming 
election ; and on the twentieth of that 
month assumed the duties of that re- 
sponsible office having l)een appointed 
by (Governor Roosevelt to fill a vacancy 
that had occurred in that ofifice. He 
was successful at the November elec- 
tion of that \ear and has since filled 
the office with honor to himself and 
credit to his constituency. He married 
June 30. 1881, an academic teacher of 
])rominence in Western New York, 
Mary E. Merritt, oldest daughter of 
George W. Merritt and Emmons Glaz- 
ier is the onl\- child, .\mong the first 
to pass the State Teachers' examina- 
tions under the ])resent system were 
Mr. and Mrs. Swift, each of wdiom as 
the result is the holder of a life certi- 
ficate. 

Clyde E. Hill was the tenth School 
Commissioner in the Eirst District of 
Chautauqua County. He was elected 
for the term beginning January i, 1891, 
and ending Deceml)er 31. 1893; he was 
re-elected in i8( j3 for the term ending 
Deceml)er 31, 1896. He was born in 
the Town of Clymer January 16, 1865. 
The name of his father was James, of 
his mother, Aurelia S. Hill. He was 
educated at the Clymer L^nion School 
and the Eredonia State Normal and 
Training School, from which he was 
graduated in the classical course in the 
class of 1888. He was engaged in 
teaching for several terms and at the 
time of his election as Commissioner 
was Principal of the I'dlington Acad- 
emv. Since the close of his term of 
ofifice as Commissioner he has removed 
to North East, Erie County, Pennsyl- 
vania, where he holds the position of 
engineer of the l)oro. He is engaged 
in the insurance l:)usiness. 

'''Grant Earle Neil, School Commis- 
sioner of the hirst District of Chautau- 
(|ua County was born April 8, 1868, at 
.\shville. New York, in the Town of 

Harmony section of the Centennial History of Chautau- 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



41 



Harmony. His father was Ausnstns 
Neil who came to this country when 
l)ut eighteen years of ag-e (in 1860), en- 
Hsted in the Civil War from tlie Town 
of Harmony as a member of Company 
D, One Hun(h-e(l Tweh'th Re-iment, 
New York X'ohmteers, and served 
three vears and now resides in Ashville, 
New Yorls. His mother, Ur;inia M. 
W'liitford Xeil, was llie daui^'hter of 
( Irison \\'hitford who was one of the 
earlv settlers of the county havin^: set- 
tled on the west shore of Chautauc|ua 
Lake just l)el()w the Xarrows in 1812. 
Connnissioner Xeil was the oldest bo\' 
of a family of seven children ; there 
were three senior sisters and two broth- 
ers and a sister vounoer. His earl\- edu- 
cation was in lhc t^raded school at Ash- 
ville and the Jamestown Union School. 
He beo-an teaching: at the age of seven- 
teen in District Xumber Eleven. Town 
of Harmonx'. and continued to teach 
until elected School Connnissioner. at- 
tending schools for teachers during va- 
cations. In September, 1891. Mr. Xeil 
went from Charlotte Center where he 
had charge of the school for three 
vears to Gerry. X>w York, as Princii)al 
of the Gerry Graded School and in Se]:)- 
tember. i8(j2. became Trincii^al of the 
Lakewood Union School at Lakewood. 
Xew York, where he remained three 
vears. In 1896 he was elected Com- 
missioner and re-elected in ^?<[)^). In 
i8(/) he was the author and compiler 
of a townshi]) and district map of Chau- 
tau(|ua County. i)ublished l)y the Math- 
ews-X'orthru]) Compan\- which is in 
nearly everv school and office in the 
countw While rrincii)al of the Lake- 
wood Union School ^\r. Xeil registered 
with the law firm of Sessions & Ses- 
sions where he served as clerk and as 
law student. As a teacher Commission- 
er Xeil was a thorough disciplinarian 
and had the faculty of stimulating the 
ambition of his students and associates 



as is attested by the prominent posi- 
tions which many of them have ob- 
tained. A.s a School Commissioner his 
work has been of that same energetic 
nature that characterized his teaching, 
es]K"ciallv so in the building up and 
guarding the interests of the common 
school districts, realizing that in these 
schools the greatest i)art of the rural 
children will comi)lete their education. 
He has also advised with the Trustees 
al)out the management of the l)usiness 
affairs of the various districts under his 
charge, kee]Mng them posted in regard 
to their imnortant duties and ajiiiointing 
(lavs on which he meets with Town 
Clerks to receive and review Trustees' 
re])orts. Loliticallx' Connnissioner Neil 
has always been a Re])ublican and an 
earnest advocate of his party's princi- 
ples. 

The first l^nion Lree School under 
the act of 1853 organized in this count v, 
was at Forestville in the Town of Han- 




FORESTVILLE UNION FREE .SCHOOL 
BUILDING. 

The first Union Free School organized in Cliautautiua 
County. 

over, in i8sS- Hon. Cyrus D. AutcII 
was then Town Superintendent of Han- 
over. To him is due the credit and 
honor of being the leader of this oioneer 
movement. It was a long and stuborn 
fight which required watchful attention, 
even after the victory for a Union 
School was won, lest the oi:>i)Osition 
should be successful in overturning the 
trood work accomplished. The men and 



42 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



women of Forestville who enlisted in 
this war in favor of advanced methods 
in education are entitled to honorable 
mention. The followin<T; were the first 
members of the Board of Education: 
Dr. A. P. Parsons. Daniel Sherman, 
Elias Baker, Abram Sexton and A. M. 
Potter. The names and Princi])als are 
Abbie Sexton, Henrv M. Allen. H. J. 
Sherill, J. O. Wright, J. C. Carter, J. A. 
Parsons, John Dole, D. W. Blanchard, 
T. L. Griswold, B. E. Whipple, L. D. 
Miller, O. E. Branch, M. W. Darling. 
S. H. Albro. PI. A. Balcom. John T. 
Cothran, Henry W. Calahan, Alanson 
WedR-e, G. W. Ellis, F. H. Hall, F. S. 
Thorp, G. W. Gurnee, A. C. Anderson. 
There are seven teachers employed 
The attendance two hundred seventy- 
five. For nearly half a century it has 
been amonc^ the best Hio-h Schools of 
the state. 

-''An son Crosby Anderson. — The 
youngest son of Edwin Anderson, An- 
son Crosby Anderson, was born in the 
township of Ellington, on August 19, 
1 86s. The latter is a descendant of a 
pioneer family who were active in the 
earlv annals of the county. His grand- 
father, George Anderson, a native of 
Keith, Scotland, emigrated to Massa- 
chusetts, where he married Phoebe 
Green, and later thev settled in the 
Town of Ellington in 1824. 

Edwin Anderson, the third son of 
George Anderson, was born in I^dling- 
ton in 1830; he married Catherine 
Crosby of that town in 1857, and the\' 
are now living in the village where tlicy 
were married. 

Stimulated by this excellent family 
stock, the subject of this sketch found 
employment on his father's farm during 
the summer, and durir.g the winter sea- 
son he attended the Ellington Academy. 
At seventeen he united with the Con- 
gregational Church in the Milage of 
Ellington. At eighteen he taught a 

* Note The sketch of Anson C. Anderson was taken from 
printed entire. 



term in the district school of Waterboro 
District ; two and one-half vears were 
occupied in teaching in the Thomas 
( )rphan Asylum school at \'ersailles. 
Mr. Anderson entered the Fredonia 
Normal School when twenty-one years 
of age, and in June, i8yo, he comi)leted 
the classical course in that institution. 
He re-entered the profession as a teach- 
er in September of that year, as Prin- 
cipal of the Smethport, Pennsvlvania, 
Graded School. He resigned his place 




ANSON C. ANDERSON. 

the following summer, and accejjted the 
Princijialship of the Forestville High 
School. During the interval Professor 
Anderson has attended several sessions 
of the Cornell Summer School at the 
L'niversity, and at Harvard College, to- 
gether with the Chautauqua Institution ; 
and thus with his experience and train- 
ing, he has given universal satisfaction 
as the head of the Forestville schools 
during the past twelve years. 

Mr. Anderson was united in marriage 
with Inez E. Shannon June 28, 1894. 

the Centennial History of Chautan(|ua County and is re- 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



43 



Edgar , Shannon, born Novem1)cr 9, 
1897; Richard James, who was born 
Aucust 31, 1899, are their children. 

Few n.ien enjoy the nniversal respect 
and confidence of a community as fully 
as does Mr. Anderson of that in which 
he lives. 

On March 17, 1858, was passed an 
act authorizing- a Union School in the 
Village of Dunkirk, then in the Town 
of Pomfret. The act provided that 
School District Numlier Nine in the 
Town of Pomfret shall form the dis- 
trict, and shall not be subject to altera- 



Massev, John Hurlburt, Eliphalet E. 
Scribner, Evans S. Parker. In 1885, the 
office of City Superintendent was creat- 
ed. The Superintendents are John B. 
Rabcock, E. E. Scribner. There were 
emi:)loyed during the school year ending 
Julv 31. 190 1, fifty-six teachers. The 
attendance was seventeen hundred fif- 
ty. There are three parochial schools 
employing fifteen teachers, with an at- 
tendance of eight hundred thirty-five. 

Union Free School District Number 
One of the Town of Ellicott, was organ- 
ized in 1863. In 1868 the Trustees of the 




DUNKIRK HIGH SCHOOL BUILDING. 



tion exce])t in the manner provided by 
law. The names of the members of 
the Board of Education provided by 
the act were Ebenezer R. Thompson, 
Samuel Hillard, Joseph Mileham, James 
H. Van Buren, Julien T. Williams and 
Otis E. TifTany. The names of Princi- 
pals are Charles W. Case, Westwood 
W. Case, James M. Cassety, Luther 
Harmon, David Beattie, James Shew- 
ard, A. H. Lewis, David H. Carver, 
William Harkins, John B. Babcock, 
Miss E. Frances Chapman, Charles 
W^alsch, Albert Leonard, J. Edward 



Jamestown xA.cademy voted to unite the 
Academy with the Union School. The 
])eople of District Number One accepted 
the trust and the school took the name 
of Jamestown L'nion School and Collegi- 
ate Institute. The names of the Pres- 
idents of the Board of Education to 
date are : William H. Tew, Sylvester 
S. Cady, Simeon W. Parks, John M. 
Farnham, Josephus H. Clark, Lewis 
Hall, Sidney Jones and Frederick A. 
Fuller. The names of the Principals 
are : Samuel G. Love, Samuel H. Al- 
bro, A. Frank Jenks, William H. Trues- 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



45 



dell, Rovillus R. Rogers, Frank S. 
Thorp, Almon X. Taylor, Milton J. 
Fletcher. The City School system was 
organized in 1888 with Samuel G. 
Love as City Superintendent, who serv- 
ed till 1890. The i)resent Superintend- 
ent is Rovillus R. Rogers. The city 
has twelve school buildings, eleven 
brick, one frame. Number of teachers 
employed, one hundred eighteen. At- 
tendance, four thousand four hundred 
and fourteen. There are eleven gram- 
mar or district schools and one High 
School. There are two private schools 
with an attendance of two hundred and 
eighty. During the year ending Jul\- 
31, 1901, the city received from the state 
for schools, $16,383.73. Amount raised 
ed by tax and other sources $75,938.28. 
The Westheld L nion School was or- 
ganized February 10th, 1868, by the 
consolidation 'of School Districts Num- 
bers One, Two, Seven and Eleven, of 
the Town of Westfield. Following this 
action was taken by the Trtistees of the 
Westfield Academy whereby the Union 
School accejHed it and it became the 
Academic De]:)artment of the Union 
School. The members of the first 



Board of Education were Hon. Austin 
Smith, President ; Charles Hathaway, H. 
P.. Rolfe, S. G. McEwin, Almon Abbott, 
E. H. Skinner, T. O. Guild, Allen 
Wright and T. D. Strong. During their 
term of service a school building was 
erected at a cost of sixtv thousand dol- 
lars and within the last year another 
equally expensive and up-to-date High 
School building has been provided. The 
names of the Principals are John b. 
h^osdick, Henry A. Balcam, S. J. Son- 
berger, Lewillan M. Glidden, Almon N. 
Taylor and Preston K. Pattison. There 
are eighteen teachers employed, main- 
taining all departments from kinder- 
garten to academic, inclusive. The at- 
tendance is six himdred seventeen. 

The Mayville Union School was or- 
ganized ( )ctober 21, 1867. May 15, 
1868, it succeeded to the property of the 
Mayville Academy and the Academic 
Department of the Union School was 
established. The members of the first 
P>oard of Education were Matthew P. 
P.emus, William P. Whiteside, John V. 
Phelps, George W. Gifford, Milton 
Smith, Hiram A. Pratt, Anson H. God- 
ard and Amos K. Warren. The Princi- 




HIGH SCHOOL BUILIJING. WE .STFIELD — 1802. 



46 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



pals of the school are Thomas J. Pratt, 
A. J. Crandall. F. Ullry, W. H. Bene- 
dict. P. K. Pattison, E. L. IManchard, 
D. E. r.atchcller. Elmon Monroe, W. 
M. Pierce, T. E. Lockhart, D. P.. Al- 




MAYVILl.K UNION SCHOOI. BUILDINO. 

hert. There are seven teachers cm- 
ployed. Attendance two hundred eig-h- 
teen. 

The Sherman L'nion School is the 
outgrowth of a log- house roofed with 
hark huilt in 1830. In 1836 a frame 
house was erected. In 1844 this gave 
place to a larger huilding which was 
enlarged in i860. Tn Decemher, 1867. 
a Union School was organized. The 
Board of Education were S. H. Myrick, 
S. D. Adams. J. T. Green. S. P.. Miller, 
D. C. Sheldon. W. ¥. Green, W. j. Cof- 
fin. James h>nner, H. W. Sperrw In 
Novemher, 1869, the school opened in 
a new huilding costing eight thousand 
dollars. The names of Principals are 
C. W. Mead, Alice Gihhs. C. Hannum. 
Walter Croshy. f. liarnes, J. T. Si:>en- 
cer, Miss E. Clothier, Miss J. Merchant, 
J. Brown, J. H. Selden. F. H. Hall, A. 
W. Onthank, A. N. Taylor, S. S. Travis. 
It is now a High School, well ecpiipped 
with apparatus and lihrary ; eight teach- 
ers em])loyed. Attendance two hun- 
dred twelve. 



Clymer Union School was organized 
in 1869. It has nine members of Board 
of Education. Last report in County 
Clerk's ofifice shows three teachers. At- 
tendance one hundred twenty-one. 

The Ellington Union School was or- 
ganized and succeeded to the ])ropertv 
of the Ellington Academy March 2^,, 
1 87 1. October 3, 1899, it was advanced 
to the grade of High School. The 
names of the first Board of Education 
are Norman M. Carpenter, Dr. James 
Brooks. John Shaw, Joel Slater, Na- 
thaniel P. Main, Frank E. Case, Junius 
h\ Potwin, Jarvis Nve, Harvey Torrv. 
The list of Principals are P. F. Burkt, 
11. v. S])ring. R. R. Rogers. John J. 
AlcAndrews, D. D. \'an Allen. Frank 
VV. Crossfield, I^-ed C. Wilcox, J. How- 
ard Russell, Clyde G. Hdl. A. H. Hiller, 
George L. Hanley, Ellis W. Storms, 
I'^rancis J. Magg. Edward C. Hawley, 
lu-nest B. Luce. Six teachers are em- 
jdoyed. Attendance one hundred fortv- 
seven. 

The Silver Creek C^nion School was 
organized Ai)ril 8th, ^.r,/i), taking the 
]d-ice of the Graded School Number 
Eight, Hanover and Sheridan, The 




ELLINGTON UNION SCHOOL BUILDING. 

members of the first Board of Educa- 
tion were A. P. Holcomb, George P. 
Gaston, Norman Babcock, A. Heine, 
Smith Clark. James M. Berran, C. P. 
Howes. The names of the Principals 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



47 



are J. W. ?.al)cock, F. K. Pattison. W. 
H. Benedict, A. M. Preston, J. M. Mc- 
Kee, J. L. Walthart, E. J. Howe. The 
faculty consists of a principal and four- 
teen assistant teachers. Instruction is 
given in all grades from Kindergarten 
to Academic, inclusive. The school has 
two buildings. Attendance five hun- 
dred seventy-six. 

The Sinclairville Union School was 
organized on May 17, 1879. The new 
building costing six thousand dollars 
was dedicated January 10, 1881. The 
names of the first Hoard of Education 
are Alonzo Langworthy. 15. W. Field, 
Henry Reynolds, P.. F. Sheldon, F. 15. 



which for many years had done excel- 
lent service in the educational field. 
The members of the first Board of 
Education were Dr. E. L. Ellis, George 
Mason, F. B. Brockway, T. H. Morris 
and Lyman Bennett. In October, 1901, 
it was raised to a High School. The 
faculty consists of six teachers. Attend- 
ance two hundred twenty-one. Princi- 
pals. D. E. Batcheller, D. A. Preston, 
C. H. Brundage, H. A. Holcomb, C. U. 
Bishop, F. M. Markham, H J. Bald- 
win. 

The Brocton L^nion School was or- 
ganized in 1887, taking the place of the 
graded school. It became a Junior 




FALCONER UNION .SCHOOL BUILDING. 



Crissey and H. A. Kirk. The names 
of the Principals are E. M. Wood, F. H. 
Hall, Charles T. Brace, J. H. Selden, 
W. E. Bunten, F. L. Hannum, Samuel 
F. Moran. In June, 1897, a new char- 
ter was granted by the Regents and 
the school was placed on the list of 
Fligh Schools. The faculty consists of 
six teachers. Attendance one hundred 
fifty-two. The organization and great, 
success of this school is largelv due to 
the intelligent efforts of ( )bed Edson, 
which have been approved bv all. 

The Ripley Union School was or- 
ganized December 19, 1882, by a union 
of the graded and high school interests, 



Regent School in 1889 and was raised 
to the grade of High School in 1896. 
The members of the first Board of Ed- 
ucation were T. C. Moss, Augustus 
Blood, Charles ( ). Furman, J. A. Skin- 
ner and E. C. Edmunds. The school 
has a faculty of nine teachers, with 
seven departments, including Kinder- 
garten. The names of Principals are 
F. W. Plato, E. J. Cobb, R. M. Fitch, 
George Haidey, John McGilles and P. 
E. Marshall. Attendance five hundred 
seventy-four. 

The Falconer Union School was or- 
ganized in 1893 from Graded School 
Number Six, Ellicott. The names of 



48 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



the first Eoard of Education are E. W. prove to l)e invaluable. He commenced 
Fenton, T. J. Pratt, J. L. Davis, F. T. his education in the Pleasantville Dis- 
Merriam, J. H. Tiffany, W. (). Snrith. trict school in 1877, and after securin^c; 
The names of Principals are M. A. the elementary studies, he entered the 
Eastman, E. (). Nui^'ent, H. C. P)rvant, Afayville Hiqh School. remainin<;- in that 
Miss Carrie Wood, T. J. Pratt, C. L. institution from 18S4 imtil i88(;. The 
Pierce, J. S. Wright, George R. Rav- five years spent in the latter school 
nor. Eight teachers emploved. At- were ]')reparatory to more useful work- 
tendance two hundred fifty-four. in the educational field. 

*George R. Ravnor, the sul)ject of In the meantime Air. Ravnor gained 

this sketch, was born in Hartfield, on some practical experience by teaching 
April II, 1871. His ancestors were two years in the schools of his native 

village. Entering the University of 
Rochester in 1889, he remained there 
for one year. Subsequently, in 1892, he 
was admitted to the Fredonia N^ormal 
School and for three vears he i)ursued 
a classical course in that well-known 
institution. After graduating from the 
hitter, he was ]:)laced in charge of the 
L'nion School at Corfu, X. Y. Vov six 
vears he resided in Frewsbiu'g where 
he acted as the efficient Princijial of the 
schools of that village. 

Mr. Raynor was elected to the T^dn- 
cii)alshi]) of the Falconer schools and 
entered upon his dutius there in Se])- 
tember, 1903. This is the present field 
of his educational work. 

At Dewittville, on January 9, 1902, 
George R. Raxnor and ( irace }. Kirk- 
land were united in marriage. In ad- 
dition to his (_)ther activities, Mr. Ra_\- 
nor is a |)rominent mend)er of the 
Methodist Church, he is identified with 
the N. P. L., the I. O. O. 1'., and Ma- 
sonic order. I)Oth as a citizen and as 
qua Countv. It is recalled that his an educator he has the res]K'ct of the 
grandfather, John Ravnor, settled in the comnumity in which he lives. 
Town of Chautau(|ua. on the shores of I'^-e(lonia I'nion School was organ- 

thc famous lake bv the same name, ized from Graded School Xumber 
during the year 1831;. In fact his arri- .iMght, Pomfret, August 11, 1894. The 
val was on tlie same day that Damon, first Hoard of kMucation was K. J. 
one <^f the earliest murderers in the Crissey, II. M. Wilson and Mrs. Emily 
chronicles of the county, was executed. Johnson, During its life "District Xum- 
Early in life George Iv. Raynor secured ber Eight" was one of the leading 
the foundations for the liberal educa- graded schools in the county. R. K. 
tion which later in his career was to Post, Alanson Wedge, ( ieorge H. Stow- 

* Note. The sketch of George R. Raynor was taken as printed from the Centennial History of Chantanqna County 
and is reprinted entire. 




GEOKtiE K. HAVNOK. 



among the early settlers of Chautau- 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



49 



itts and James W. Barker were among 
its Principals. The Union School since 
its organization has been in the charge 
of Miss Mary F. Lord as Principal. 
There are sixteen teachers employed. 
Attendance five hundred sixty-five. 

The Lakewood Union School was 
organized in District Number One. 
Rusti, in 1893. The first Board of Ed- 
ucation consisted of one member. 
Charles H. Wicks. The names of Prin- 
cipals employed to date are Grant E. 
Neil. William P.laisdclh Alton A])ple]iy. 
George A. Persell. There are four 
teachers. Attendance one hundred 
thirtv-three. 



Clerk's ofifice has six teachers. Attend- 
ance one hundred sixty-nine. Number 
of members of Board of Education six, 
names not given. 

The Stockton Union School was or- 
ganized November 18, 1896, taking the 
place of Graded School of District 
Number three. The members of the 
first fjoard of Education were S. M. 
Crissey, G. T. Putnam. L. C. Miller, C. 
D. Payne, N. E. Bogue, J. D. Crissey. 
There are four teachers employed. At- 
tendance one hundred fifteen. Princi- 
])als R. D. Eddy. (). C. Presler. 

The Cherry Creek Union School was 
organized August 4. 1897. ili^' ^''-'^^ 




FKEWSKUHG UNION .SCHOOL I5U1LDINCJ. 



The Panama Union School was or- 
ganized in 1895 taking the place of the 
graded school organized in 1868. The 
members of the first Board of Educa- 
tion were John Dean. Loren B. Ses- 
sions, W. L. Eddy. John Newhouse, J. 
J. Sternberg, G. A. Davis, Mrs. Walter 
, L. Sessions. Mrs. Mary Smith, Eliza M. 
Sweet. The names of Principals are C. 
J. Rice, John M. Crofoot, Seward M. 
Travis, C. B. Persell. The faculty con- 
sists of five teachers. Attendance one 
hundred eleven. 

The Erewsburg Union School, as 
shown by report on file in County 



E)Oard of Education were C. A. Mount, 
G. F. Lapham, C. L. Edwards, C. H. 
Martin. H. J. Shepardson. The school 
was ])laced on the list of Pligh Schools 
in 1900. The faculty consists of six 
teachers. Attendance two hundred 
twenty-nine. Principal, J. N. Crofoot. 
Eor many years prior to 1897 the 
Cherry Creek Graded School did Pood 
work under the Principalships of R. W. 
Parsons, E. A. Hayes. E. J. Swift, War- 
ren B. Hooker, George H. Frost, R. A. 
Hall and others. 

The Chautauqua Union School was 
organized in 1900. The members of 




" IT 



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K M J 

a .U ^ 

a 'J K 

x o * 

z 



w w 

K « 

o -J 

« W 

a <-* 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



51 



the first Board of Education are N. S. 
Morey, D. E. Rice, A. G. Hardenbur":, 
G. A. Taylor, W. A. Cornell. There are 
four teachers. Attendance one hun- 
dred forty-one. Principal Phillip J. 
McEvoy. 

The Irvine- I'nion School was or- 
ganized ^larch 26, Kjoi. The names 
of the members of the Board of, Educa- 
tion are B. L. Newton, A. D. Burmas- 
ter, Jr., G. W. Parks, G. W. Smith. 
Name of Principal, B. A. Matthewson ; 
two teachers. Attendance sixty. 

The Cassadasra Union School was or- 




WILLIAM VORCE 

Who did much for the Schools of Westfield, Chautauqua 
and Ellerv 



ganized July i, 1901. Members of 
Board of Education are C. S. Putnam 
W. B. Waite, L. M. Smith, T. S. Alden, 
J. E. Pierpont, L. Knott, E. W. Phil- 
lips, L. S. Bradford, Secretary. There 
are three teachers employed. Attend- 
ance one hundred six. 

The Busti Graded School has two 
teachers. Attendance, seventy - six. 
Principal, J. A. Darrow. 

The Ashville Graded School has three 
teachers. Attendance, eighty. Princi- 
pal, F. L. Darrow. 

The Findlev's Lake Graded School 



has three teachers. Attendance, one 
hundred ten. 

The Kennedy Graded School has 
four teachers. Attendance one hundred 
thirty-one. Principal, D. M. Ruttenbur. 
The Hamlet Graded School has two 
teachers. Attendance sixty-five. Prin- 
cipal, F. M. Hammond. 

The Watts Flats Graded School has 
three teachers. Attendance, fifty-four. 
Principal, Charles W. Hurlburt. 

The Gerry Graded School has four 
teachers. Attendance, one hundred 
twenty-five. Principal, Robert G. Wid- 
rig. 

The Mina Graded School has two 
teachers. Attendance, forty - seven. 
Principal, Benjamin Buslink. 

The Clark Graded School has two 
teachers. Attendance, forty. Principal. 
David Clark, Jr. 

The Ellery Ciraded School, District 
Xumber Four, two teachers. Attend- 
ance fifty-two. Principal, Bertha E. 
Smiley. 

The Portland Graded School has 
two teachers. Attendance twenty-sev- 
en. Principal, Hayes M. Morse. 

The Pomfret Graded School, Dis- 
trict Number Four, has two teachers. 
Attendance, eighty-three. Principal, 
Hannah Sullivan. 

The Hanover Graded School, District 
Number Six, has two teachers. At- 
tendance thirty-nine. Principal, Her- 
bert E. Everhart. 

The Celoron Graded School, District 
Number Three, Ellicott, two teachers. 
Attendance eighty. Principal, Charles 
L. Larder. 

The Parochial Schools of the county 
located in Dunkirk and Jamestown are 
doing a good work. They are well or- 
ganized ; in charge of competent and 
painstaking instructors, and form an 
important part of our educational sys- 
tem. In the City of Dunkirk there are 
over one thousand piipils in attendance 



52 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



at the church schools. The first school 
was organized in 1865. Those in attend - 
ance have the benefits of well-equipped 
school-rooms, modern methods and su- 
perior instruction. The results attained 
as shown by the reports of examina- 
tions — including Regents — taken by the 
pupils are satisfactory. Rev. Joseph 
M. Theis, having general supervision, 
is a thorough and earnest teacher, 
whose objective point is to promote the 
l)est interests of education. Under his 
intelligent management the schools are 
very successful, and deservedly popular 
with the people who i)atronize them. 

During the century there have been 
many private schools or'jn.nized in the 
county which have accomplished much 
good. They were a necessitv of the 
neriod ; which has ]:)assed as our system 
of education became developed, and 
have given place to our Kindergarten 
and High Schools. The children's 
school. The Quaker School for young 
ladies, organized in Jamestown in 1833. 
The Salem Academy, a private enter- 
prise" organized in the Town of Port- 
land in 1832. The Ouincv High School 
at Ri])ley. The Percival School for 
boys. The Deaf Mute School in Dun- 
kirk. The several select schools in near- 
ly every town in the county, were the 
workshops where the children of the 
early settlers received instruction in the 
higher branches of education. A large 
number of the better class of teachers 
were prepared for their work in these 
schools. They were the dawnings of 
l)etter days, the advance guard of edu- 
cational progress. 

Forty years ago Luther Harmon 
taught a select school of thirty pupils 
at a four corners midway between the 
Villages of Mayville and Sherman — now 
known as Summerdale. Twenty-three 
of these pupils became successful teach- 
ers in our public schools. 

A sketch of the origin, change and 



growth of a school district, during the 
last century will enable us to mark its 
progress. Being acquainted with the 
conditions, I give this as a specimen 
brick taken from our educational struc- 
ture. What is true of one is true of 
all in a greater or less degree. School 
District Number Three of the Town of 
Stockton, then the Town of Chautau- 
qua, was organized in 1817 and a log 
school-house built. In 1820 there were 
thirty-nine pupils in attendance with 
Jedidiah Post as teacher. In 1840 a red 
school-house had been built. The at- 
tendance was eighty ]nipils with Wil- 
liam D. Jennings as teacher. In i860 
a white school-house had been provid- 
ed. Attendance one hundred three pu- 
pils taught by Phin M. Miller. In 1866 
there was a union of two districts, and 
a graded three-quota school organized. 
In 1880 there were three teachers em- 
ployed ; the attendance was one hundred 
twenty. In 1896 a Pinion School was 
organized with four teachers. In 1902 
there are four teachers employed with 
an attendance of one hundred fifteen. 
The salary paid for teacher in 1820 was 
eighteen dollars for twenty-four days. 
In 1840 it was twenty-four dollars for 
twenty-four days. In i860 the pay was 
thirty-five dollars for twenty-two days. 
In 1880 it was ninety-six dollars for 
twenty days, three teachers being em- 
ployed. In 1902 there are four teach- 
ers at a salary of one hundred sixty- 
three dollars for twenty days. In each 
of these periods of school, the teachers 
furnished their own board. In 1820 and 
1840, the pay was part cash and part 
produce; in i860 and 1880, cash after 
close of term; in 1902. monthly pay- 
ment. 

Under the law of 181 2, Town Com- 
missioners were authorized to form 
school districts, call meetings and at- 
tend to the financial affairs of schools. 
The Town Inspectors visited the 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



53 



schools, advised with teachers and trus- 
tees. The g-ranting- of certificates to 
teach was by joint action, three con- 
stituting a quorum. The former were 
selected from the level-headed, hard 
fisted, practical proprietors ; the latter 
from the better educated ones. It was 
this combination of practical common 
sense and educational intellig-ence, that 
the would-be teacher had to face in an 
examination for a license. It is told 
that in one of the towns — call it Stock- 
ton — in the long ag-o, an applicant ap- 
peared for examination. The only 
members of the board present were 
three of the Commissioners. It was an 
unusual condition — none of the Inspec- 
tors being there to take charge of the 
examination — but not sufficient to dis- 
concert the Commissioners. They pro- 
ceeded with the examination of the ap- 
plicant. After the would-be teacher 
had read the "African Chief" the ex- 
amination was as follows : "Where are 
you going to teach?" "In the Deer 
Lick District." "What do the Trustees 
agree to pay you?" "Five shillings for 
six days and board around." "What do 
you have to eat at home?" "Corn 
bread, pork, potatoes and jjumpkin 
sauce !" "Do you know a sure cure for 
the itch?" "Yes sir. Itch Ointment." 
"How is it made?" "One part lard, two 
parts sulphur." "Do you wrestle at 
March meeting?" "Yes sir!" The ex- 
amination being very satisfactory, the 
license was granted. Later the law was 
amended giving to the Inspectors sole 
power to license teachers. 

•The Fredonia Normal and Training 
School was organized under the provi- 
sions of an act of the Legislature passed 
April 7, 1866, and known as Chapter 
four hundred sixty-six, entitled "An 
Act in regard to Normal Schools." 
Section I provided that the Governor, 
Lieutenant - Governor, Secretary of 
State, the Comptroller, the State Treas- 



urer, the Attorney General and the 
State Superintendent of Public Instruc- 
tion, should constitute a commission to 
receive proposals in writing in regard 
to establishing four normal and train- 
ing schools. The names of the mem- 
bers of the commission who voted in 
favor of locating one of these schools 
at Fredonia are Reuben E. Fenton, 
Stewart L. Woodford, Thomas Hill- 
house and Victor M. Rice. The people 
of Fredonia raised one hundred thous- 
and dollars. The academy authorities 
turned over the li])rary. apparatus and 




DR. J. W. ARMSTRONG 

Other movable property to the state. 
To Hon. Willard McKinstry and Hon. 
Oscar W. Johnson much credit is due 
for their earnest and well-directed ef- 
forts in securing the location of the 
school. The Normal School was op- 
ened in the Academy building in Decem- 
ber, 1867, with Normal, Academic and 
two Practice Departments. The new 
building was occupied in September, 
1868. That building was burned De- 
cember 14, 1900. A new building is 
being completed at a cost of two hun- 
dred fifty thousand dollars. The school 



54 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



has been in continuous session during 
each school year since 1867. Over one 
thousand persons have been graduated 
from the Normal department and more 
than two hundred pupils from the Aca- 
demic department. The names of the 
members of the local Board appointed 
by Victor M. Rice are Oscar W. John- 
son, Willard McKinstry, George Bar- 
ker, Horace White, Almond Z. Madi- 
son, Spencer S. Bailey, xA.ddison C. 
Gushing, Stephen M. Glement, Orson 
Stiles, Albert Haywood, Henry G. 
Lake, Simeon Savage, Lucius Hurlbut 
and Albert H. Judson. The Legislat- 
ure of 1869 passed an act relieving the 
Board from further service and placed 
the management of the school in the 
hands of the State Superintendent. In 
1874 the following local Board was ap- 
pointed : Lorenzo Morris, Philo H. 
Stevens, Louis McKinstry, Franklin 
Burritt, George D. Hinckley. G. E. Ben- 
ton and Alva Golburn. The names of 
Principals are: Joseph A. Allen, John 
W. Armstrong, James H. Hoose and 
Francis B. Palmer. 

The Ghautauciua Assembly and Sum- 
mer School was incorporated under the 
laws of the State of New York and has 
been in active, progressive existence for 
twenty-eight years. It is a summer 
school, college and university combined. 
Its course of study covers the wide 
range of language, art, science, music, 
politics, economics, morals and relig- 
ion. The Ghautauqua Gourse has more 
than fifty separate and distinct depart- 
ments and classes, all of which are in 
flourishing condition — and the end is 
not yet. 

Since its organization in 1874, more 
than three million dollars has been ex- 
pended in its development. The regu- 
lar attendance of scholars each year is 
counted in the thousands, while those 
availing themselves of the educational 
advantages offered for home study 



must be numbered in the millions. 
More than this ! The Ghautauquas that 
have been organized everywhere, in this 
and nearly every state ; in England ; on 
the Gontincnt ; in Asia and Africa, are 
the children of our own Ghautauqua. 
The intelligent men, women and child- 
ren of the best county, in the grandest 
state, of the most glorious nation on 
the earth, unite in saying: All praise 
and honor to Ghautauc[ua's originators, 
projectors, founders, builders, conduc- 
tors and teachers — ])ast, present and in 
the century before us ! 

There are two hundred eight}-one 
school districts in the county. ( )f these 
twenty are LTnion, two hundred sixty- 
one Gommon Schools. During the year 
ending July 31, 1901, five hundred 
eighty-seven teachers were employed 
for one hundred sixty or more days. 
The number of pupils in attendance 
was seventeen thousand one. The aver- 
age attendance was twelve thousand 
three hundred twenty-five. The num- 
ber of children of school age in the 
county, nineteen thousand two hundred 
ten. Number of private schools, eight ; 
attendance twelve hundred ninety. 
There are two hundred sixty-two frame 
and forty-two brick school buildings. 
Value of school houses five hundred 
eighty-one thousand seventy-eight dol- 
lars. Value of sites one hundred sev- 
enty-eight thousand two hundred sev- 
enty-seven dollars. Amount of money 
received from the state seventy-five 
thousand eight hundred sixty-three dol- 
lars and ninety-six cents. Amount raised 
bv tax. tuition and other sources two 
hundred forty thousand seven hundred 
three dollars and eighty cents. Of this 
amount two hundred seven thousand 
eight hundred forty-nine dollars forty- 
six cents was paid for teachers' wages ; 
one hundred seventeen thousand three 
hundred seven dollars and ninety-eight 
cents was paid for school-houses, sites. 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



55 



repairs, furniture, books, apparatus and 
incidentals. Number of male teachers 
employed, one hundred twenty-four ; 
female, five hundred seventy. Number 
of inspections made l)y Commissioners, 
three hundred ninety-seven. Average 
annual salary paid to teachers three 
hundred fifty-four dollars and nine 
cents ; cost per pupil for the year nine- 
teen dollars and thirteen cents. Chau- 
tauqua County in 1844 had eighteen 
thousand two hundred sixty-seven 
children of school age, iDctween five and 
fifteen. In 1902 there are nineteen 
thousand two hundred ten, between five 
and twentv-one, an increase of nine hun- 
dred forty-three in fifty-eiglit years. 

These have been and are the work- 
shops of the people for the enlighten- 
ment and education of the masses ; the 
mills to grind to dust ignorance and 
superstition ; to smelt, solidify and pro- 
perly develop the raw material of the 
brain ; to separate the dross of immor- 
ality and vice from the fine gold of hon- 
esty, purity and truth ; to make plain 
the lessons of a better life, and develop 
the grand truth of unselfishness. 

It is not a proposition of intelligence 
alone, for that is only an element of 
power. The discarded angels were 
possessed of that. The great question — 
"Is intelligence a blessing or a curse?" 
is answered by the moral sentiments 
of the masses. Our schools are the 
great workshops for diffusing intelli- 
gence and morality in this republic. 
The open door calls to all. The child 
of poverty stands at the threshold with 
all the rights and privileges of that of 
any other. The royal purple goes to 
the brave hearts who win in the contest 
where all are started on an ecjual foot- 
ing. Here may be found light for every 
soul. They are the nurseries which gen- 
erate and send life and energy into so- 
cietv. Thev furnish the moral, mental 
and physical strength, which, properly 



directed, shall keep and preserve us a 
nation. May we all measure the words : 
The decline of public and private vir- 
tue sounds the death knell of the repub- 
lic. 

When Cineas returned from his mis- 
sion, he was asked how the Roman 
.Senate appeared? His answer was 
"Like an assembly of Kings." History 
repeats itself as we take from the edu- 
cational record of the past, the names 
of Anna Eaton, Squire White, Abner 
Hazeltine, Abner Lewis, Richard Smith, 
George Leonard, Delos Rider, Chaun- 
cey Tucker, Emerson W. Keyes, Elias 
H. Jenner, James Parker, Lucius M. 
Robertson, Madison Burnell, Henry C. 
Lake, Glenni Scofield, Adelaide A. 
Gleason, R. D. Vrooman, Mary Terry 
Sessions, P. P. Kidder, Ebenezer R. 
Thompson, Charles G. Maples, Calvin 
Cheney, Calista S. Jones, Samuel G. 
Love, Edward A. Dickinson, William S. 
Rice, Emily Trask, Jarius Handy, Cal- 
vin Kingsley, Jesse Smith, John Stew- 
ard, Orsel Cook, Adaline Muzzy, Sarah 
Griswold, Emory F. Warren, Darwin 
I"^at(jn, George A. Watson, Betsey 
Eatcheller, William Lamont, Philip S. 
Cottle, Lizzie Richardson, Charles 
Hathaway, Judge L. Bugbee, Thomas 
Jones, Nancy Lyon, Polly Shepard, 
Andrew P. White, Lorenzo Parsons, 
Helen Wright, Mary Leonard Crissey, 
Hannah Johnson Henderson, W^orthy 
Putnam. Had we the space and time 
this list could be oft-repeated with other 
ecjuallv deserving names, all of whom 
will be remembered as successful teach- 
ers in our public schools. 

The descendants of Solomon Jones, 
Sr., and Susannah Jones Hazeltine show 
fifty-nine to have l^een successful teach- 
ers in this county. Who will say "suc- 
cessful teachers are not born ?" 

The following fact shows the venera- 
tion and love the "old boys and girls" 
had for their teachers. In the beautiful 



LdC. 



56 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



cemetery in the Village of Silver Creek 
may be seen a modest, substantial mon- 
ument bearing this inscription: "Miss 
Emily Trask — afterward the wife of 
Russell W. Fisk— born April 26th, 1808. 
Died April 26th, 1886. Erected to her 
memory by her former pupils." 

An attempt even to outline our edu- 
cational history, omitting- to mention 
the name of Hon. Austin Smith, would 
mark the efifort a failure. During an 
active, useful and long life he has been 
closely identified with the cause of edu- 
cation. He was the first principal of the 
first academy in the county, beginning 
his work in Fredonia in 1826. In 1830 
he settled in Westfield. He was a mem- 
ber of the first Board of Trustees of 
Westfield Academy organized in 1837 
and ever its warm and earnest friend. 
In 1868 when the Union High School 
succeeded the Academy he was elected 
President of the Board of Education. 
For more than sixty years he was an 
active, intelligent educational force do- 
ing good work for the cause in which 
he had a peculiar interest. His name 
has alwavs been the synonym of all that 
is pure and true. Recollections of him 
will bring "music at midnight" to all 
who have known Austin Smith. 

Calista S. Jones, for more than half 
a century, was identified with active 
school and educational work in Chau- 
tauqua County. She was a worker, 
teacher, advocate and executive of^ficer 
in every department of education. Elli- 
cott and Jamestown owe more to her 
than to any other person their great 
success in all their educational under- 
takings. Her inllucnce was not con- 
fined to the limits of her home town and 
city. For a ((uarter of a century she 
was the intelligent adviser of the school 
officials of the county. She was the 
fearless sergeant in command of the 
educati(inal picket line in the struggle 



to subdue ignorance and vice. We hon- 
or ourselves when we sing her praise. 

Squire White was the first college 
graduate to engage in school teaching 
in Chautauqua County. His school was 
in the now Town of Sheridan, at a place 
known as Roberts Corners — about three 
miles east of Fredonia. The School 
Trustees were John Walker, Richard 
Douglass and William Gould. They 
made a conditional bargain with Mr. 
White, who was a physician. The terms 
were : For him to teach the school — 
but if he had a call to practice his pro- 
fession, school might be closed, to be 




CALI-STA S. JONE.S. 

resumed after the call was made. This 
school was in session during the winter 
of 1808 and 1809. In the spring of 1809 
he moved to Canadaway, now Fredonia, 
where he passed a long and useful life 
devoted to his jirofession and the cause 
of education. 

Alanson Wedge was born in North 
Leverett, Massachusetts, May i, 1822. 
He was graduated from Brown Univer- 
sity in 1848. For forty years he was a 
teacher in academics and high schools, 
a large portion of this time in Chautau- 
(|ua County. He was one of the most 
thorough and painstaking teachers in 
the land. In si)eaking upon the subject 



CHAUTAUQUA COUNTY SCHOOLS AND EDUCAUION. 



57 



of reviews in school, he was asked how 
often reviews should be had? His an- 
swer was "Perfection may be the end 
of a review !" Continuing, he said, "I 
would recommend a review, a re-review, 
a re-re-review, and if necessary, a thor- 
ough review back of all these." In the 
class room, in methods and thorough- 
ness, he was a past master. All honor 
and praise to the worth and work of 
this grand and good man. 

Oscar W. Jonhson was born in But- 
ternuts, Otsego County, New York, 
September 8, 1823. He removed to 
Pomfret, Chautauqua County, in 1838, 
where he attended the Fredonia Acad- 
emy, taught school and began the prac- 
tice of law. Every advance step in edu- 
cational progress had an earnest advo- 
cate in Mr. Johnson. He was the faithful 
friend of the common schools. During 
a series of years extending from 1865 
to 1876 he was employed by the State 
Department as a lecturer before Teach- 
ers' Institutes in the state. During the 
last forty 
his life, he 
education- 
ian of our 
In educa- 
cles, the 
Oscar 
was a 
passport 
highest 
and esti- 
all. He 




OSCAR \N' JOHSSOST. 



years o f 
was the 
al histor- 
county, 
tional cir- 
name o f 
J o h n s o n 
ready 
to the 
confidence 
mation of 
was a 

grand production of our splendid sys- 
tem of education. Knowing what this 
educational sketch is, realizing what 
it might have been, in his hands, I am 
able to estimate his worth. It is the 
difference between night and day ; the 
change from a halting paralytic to the 
strong man ready to run a race. 

Victor M. Rice was born in Mayville, 
Chautauqua County, New York, April 
5, 1818. At an early age he removed 
to the then Town of Clymer, now the 



Town of French Creek, where he grew 
to manhood. His early education was 
gained in the log school-house and at 
the family fireside. In 1841 he gradu- 
ated from Allegheny Colle^ge. He at 
once began the work of teaching and 
was in the public schools of Buffalo 
from 1848 to 1854 as Principal and Su- 
perintendent. He was elected State 
Superintendent of Public Instruction in 
1854 for a term of three years. In i860 
he was again elected and served for two 
terms, being re-elected in 1863. During 
his terms of office may be found the 
golden years of improvement in our 




VICTOR M. RICE. 

educational history. He was a thor- 
oughly practical man ; an earnest teach- 
er •, a statesman with all the virtues of 
a Chautauqua politician, he was well 
equipped for the work at hand. It was 
he who organized our present system 
of school supervision ; who drafted the 
law giving us Union Schools ; who in- 
creased the number of our Normal and 
Training Schools ; who gave to the state 
free schools. It may be said "The time 
had come for these things !" The fact 
still stands, that Heaven inspired this 
man with couraee to undertake this 



58 



CH\UTAUOUA COUNFY SCHOOLS AND EDUCATION. 



glorious work. Measured by results 
his is the grandest name in the educa- 
tional history of our state. He was 
ever loyal to his native county. He was 
the first to suggest a Normal School for 
our county. With his advice, assistance 
and vote was secured the location of 
the school at Fredonia. Within six 
hours after the bill was signed, giving 
four additional Normal Schools to the 
state, he had secured the necessary 
votes to locate one in Chautauqua 
County, all else being equal. As long 
as our gardens, fields and woodlands 
are clothed in verdure and flowers in 
their season ; as long as our sparkling 
brooks wind their way unmolested to 
the sea, so long may the people of Chau- 
tauqua County in each succeeding gen- 
eration honor the name of Victor M. 
Rice. 

Finallv ! Let us avoid the day when 
the people neglect their duty to the com- 
mon schools ; when there shall be cer- 
tificates of excellence secured without 
labor ; when it shall be the fashion to 
misspell common words ; when pu- 
pils are carried on a pillow to the top 
of the educational mountains ; when 
boys and girls show signs of rottenness 
before ripeness. Let us dot our coun- 
try with school-houses as the stars dot 
the heavens at night ; let us place there- 
in thoroughly coiiipetent and painstak- 
ing teachers. Let us box our educa- 
tional compass ; take our reckoning, and 
select a safe course for the future of our 
public schools, based u])on the propo- 
sitions : The strength and stability of 
our nation is derived from the morality 
and intelligence of the common people. 
The staircases of truth in morals, sci- 
ence and art, reaching from the dark- 
ness of earth to the sunlight of Heaven, 
are scaled by systematic industry and 
patient investigation. Honest toil and 
severe discipline are the keys opening 
the doors leading to wisdom and Fiap- 



piness. An hundred children are ruined 
by weak and superficial instruction 
where one is injured by thoroughness ; 
the rule governing physical labor should 
be the standard — a task is finished when 
completed in all its parts. Giants are 
not made by sympathy and tears. The 
sunlight of happiness is reached by a 
triumi^h over difficulties ; by faith, hope 
and self-reliance. The brain that earns 
wisdom, is the only one to receive it. 
A lack of thoroughness in labor is the 
radical, and often the fatal defect of 
life. It is by discipline that the physical 
and moral laws of the Universe are 
enforced. The mountain trembled when 
the Lord descended upon Mount Sinai. 
Amid thunder, the Mosaic law with its 
penalties was proclaimed to man. "God 
has come to prove you that His fear 
may be upon you that you sin not" are 
the words of Moses to the terror-strick- 
en people. In the majesty of power and 
amid the convulsions of nature the law 
was proclaimed by the Almighty. x\u- 
thority. human or divine, will receive 
scant attention and observance from 
the one who has failed to respect the 
authority of parent or teacher. Most 
scholars are obedient ; a majoritv of 
citizens respect and obey the law. There 
are, there always will be, exceptions. 
These must be controlled, or virtue 
ends and a reign of terror begins. 
Should the teacher be asked to control 
without punishment when no other hu- 
man power can ? The philosophv of 
the physical and moral world teaches 
that it is an impossibility. 

Deserving, may the teachers of our 
schools during the coming century re- 
ceive the protecting care of all that is 
pure and true. That their bended bows 
of promise may be thickly clustered with 
all that helps to make men and women 
great and good, is the earnest praver 
of the friends of education in Chautau- 
(lua Countv. 



